The 1st Aviation Brigade of the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence has awarded Redwire Corporation a $15-million follow-on contract for additional Stalker uncrewed aerial systems.
The 1st Aviation Brigade of the US Army Aviation Center of Excellence has awarded Redwire Corporation a $15-million follow-on contract for additional Stalker uncrewed aerial systems (UAS).
The award marks the brigade’s third order within the past eight months.
Under the contract, the UAS will be delivered to the 2nd Battalion, 13th Aviation Regiment at Fort Huachuca to support advanced individual training for Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System specialists.
Part of an evolving military occupational specialty, the role combines drone operation and maintenance duties while conducting reconnaissance, surveillance, and target acquisition missions alongside ground forces.
“Redwire understands the criticality of ‘train the trainer’ through effective individualized instruction and the role it plays in supporting the evolving mission needs of the modern battlefield,” said Steve Adlich, President of Redwire Defense Tech, highlighting the company’s goal of supporting operator independence.
Stalker UAS in US Military
Built for deployment across various missions, the Stalker UAS was designed with a modular, open-systems approach for rapid payload integration and upgrades.
The fixed-wing, vertical takeoff and landing platform has a maximum takeoff weight of 22 kilograms (49 pounds) and a top speed exceeding 50 knots (93 kilometers/57 miles per hour).
It can remain airborne for around eight hours and reach altitudes of up to 4,572 meters (15,000 feet).
The US Defense Innovation Unit added the Group 2 drone to its Blue UAS list in July 2025, clearing it for use by the Pentagon and other federal agencies.
In August, the drone was selected for the US Army’s Long Range Reconnaissance program prototype phase agreement.
The army’s aviation soldiers began training with the Stalker UAS in November of the same year.
