The UK Ministry of Defense awarded an initial £129 million contract for the purchase of two types of drones for the troops.

The drones that are going to be bought are 99 Stalker UAVs and 15 Indago UAVs.

This is stated in the press release.

Drones from Lockheed Martin will be used by the British Army and Strategic Command for Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) on the front line and deep into enemy territory.

The Stalker drone is a small, near-silent drone that provides a long-term ability to capture images in a variety of contested environments. The weight of the drone is less than 20 kg.

Indago is small enough to be carried in a backpack, it weighs 8 kg and deploys in a few minutes.

It is emphasized that the contract will eliminate the gap in the capabilities of previous operational maintenance schemes for DH3 and RAGGLE drones. The agreement will also provide for rapid development of requirements response capabilities and allow Lockheed Martin to scan the market for new technologies.

Drone deliveries are due to begin in 2023.

Stalker

This UAV is equipped with a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) that uses propane. It has an operating time of more than 8 hours.

• Maximum payload: 2.5kg
• Maximum takeoff weight: 21.7 kg (battery), 19.9 kg (fuel cell)
• Flight time: 8+ h
• Altitude: up to 3,600 meters
• Maximum speed: 93 km/h
• Launch: vertical takeoff and landing
• Wingspan: 4.8 meters
• Crew: 1 to 2

Indago has a compact design and quickly deploys.

UAVs have reduced noise, and high-resolution cameras provide scaling capabilities to accurately identify people, objects, vehicles, and weapons.

Cameras have settings that allow them to work in low light: at dusk or on cloudy days. Infrared cameras provide capabilities for covert night operations.

• Endurance: 50-70 minutes of exposure with payload
• Data line range: 10-12 km (expandable to radio range 20-30 km)
• Industry-leading image stabilization
• Maximum takeoff weight 2.2 kg

The UK will supply Ukraine with hundreds of thousands of rounds of artillery ammunition next year.