The Stalker was a hand-launched, electrically powered unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for an unspecified customer, presumably United States Special Operations Command. It was used for military applications, such as providing intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition. The Stalker was a hand-launched, electrically powered unmanned aerial vehicle developed by Lockheed Martin Skunk Works for an unspecified customer, presumably United States Special Operations Command.
The Lockheed Martin Stalker was created in 2006 by the same Skunk Works team responsible for the Desert Hawk. It was hand launched and belly landed, had a quiet electric motor and propeller, and carried a detachable camera payload. The camera system had modules for daylight, low light, and infrared. It was used for military applications, such as providing intelligence, surveillance, and target acquisition. The Stalker used a self-sustaining propane-fueled tubular solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) system developed by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory (ARL).
Optionally powered by a ruggedized Solid Oxide Fuel Cell, Stalker uses propane to achieve 8+ hours of operation. To support the needs of the mission, the system can also be easily reconfigured in the field to a battery powered option that provides 4 hours of endurance.The Stalker VXE Block 30 system was upgraded with a next generation vertical take-off and landing capability to provide users with greater mission flexibility for operations in austere locations around the world. The Stalker XE Block 25 system can be hand launched from bungee or rail options.
The custom droppable payload compartment allows the user to precisely drop a small payload from the air. A digital backbone allows for rapid deployment of the latest technology, meaning better pictures and more capabilities. Stabilized pan, tilt, zoom electro-optical, infrared, and cameras with the ability to lock and track targets enables unprecedented imaging capabilities in a small UAS for operations in all weather conditions, day/night. The Stalker XE is powered by a ruggedized Solid Oxide Fuel Cell (SOFC) that uses globally available propane to achieve 8+ hours of operation.
