Redwire’s Stalker Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) continues to demonstrate its versatility and combat relevance, evolving from a training asset at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence to a vital tool for long-range reconnaissance under the Army’s LRR contract. With a track record of supporting missions worldwide, the Stalker has proven itself as a dependable, combat-proven platform.
At the recent Ivy Sting IV exercise hosted by the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado, the Stalker showcased a capability that sets it apart from other Group 2 UAS: deep integration with the Army’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) tactical network. Designed with a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), the Stalker was able to integrate seamlessly into the network, becoming a native, discoverable node the moment it entered the mesh. This eliminated the need for extensive manual configuration and allowed the aircraft to populate the battlefield with real-time position data and full-motion video accessible across the entire NGC2 ecosystem.
This level of integration represents a significant step forward for the Army’s data-centric modernization goals. As the only fixed-wing vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) system participating in the exercise, the Stalker demonstrated that its modularity extends beyond hardware. By leveraging open-architecture waveforms, the aircraft functioned as more than just a sensor—it served as a routing node capable of extending the network’s reach to the tactical edge. This capability ensured that critical intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) data flowed directly to artillery units, enabling the 4th Infantry Division’s DIVARTY to process fire missions and assess battle damage faster than legacy systems allowed.
Joshua Stinson, Chief Growth Officer at Redwire Defense Tech, emphasized the significance of the achievement. “The Stalker’s deployment at Ivy Sting highlights how its modular design translates into seamless network integration,” he said. “Its endurance and advanced capabilities allow it to perform brigade-level tasks typically reserved for larger Group 3 aircraft, but with a much smaller logistical footprint.”
Redwire’s Flight Operations team worked closely with over 6,000 soldiers from the 4th Infantry Division during the Ivy Sting series, refining tactics and demonstrating the Stalker’s ability to populate directly into a Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle. This integration provided immediate battle damage assessment through full-motion video, reinforcing the aircraft’s role as a force multiplier.
The success at Ivy Sting IV aligns directly with the Pentagon’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) vision, which seeks to break down silos between sensors and shooters across all military domains. By ensuring that Stalker operates as a fully integrated node on the NGC2 mesh, Redwire is helping the Army move toward a future where secure, encrypted data flows seamlessly to commanders, enabling faster and more informed decisions on the battlefield.
As the Army prepares for Project Convergence-Capstone 6, the “plug-and-fight” integration demonstrated by the Stalker is set to become the standard for future networked operations. Redwire remains committed to supporting the 4th Infantry Division and the broader Army modernization effort, turning the data-centric vision into reality for today’s warfighters.
