Redwire Corporation has announced that its Stalker uncrewed aerial system (UAS), produced by subsidiary Edge Autonomy, has been authorized for use across the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) after being added to the Defense Innovation Unit’s (DIU) “Blue UAS” list.
The DIU Blue List serves as the DoD’s rigorously vetted catalog of drones approved for universal government use. Inclusion on the list signifies that the Stalker UAS has passed stringent tests for cybersecurity, operational capability, and compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), ensuring it meets the highest standards for national security missions.
This approval streamlines the procurement process, allowing Redwire to rapidly deliver its combat-proven technology to address the DoD’s evolving operational demands. Redwire Chairman and CEO Peter Cannito stated that the selection positions the company at the forefront of strengthening the U.S. drone industrial base, aligning with White House initiatives to ramp up domestic UAS commercialization and production.
The Stalker UAS is a Group 2 drone, a category for midsize tactical systems, with a legacy of nearly two decades and hundreds of thousands of flight hours across six continents. It is a proven platform for Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) missions in diverse environments.
A key feature of the Stalker is its Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA) design. This flexibility allows for the integration of various third-party sensors and advanced payloads, enabling customers to customize the system for specific and emerging mission requirements.
Steve Adlich, President of Edge Autonomy, highlighted that this milestone underscores the U.S. Government’s trust in their technology and opens doors for broader deployment of their advanced Group 2 UAS across more government agencies and operational units.
