U.S. Army Aviation Begins VXE30 Stalker Drone Training to Boost Reconnaissance Capabilities.

U.S. Army aviation soldiers began operating the VXE30 Stalker Unmanned Aircraft System at Fort Rucker on November 18, according to information published by the U.S. Department of War on November 24, 2025. The training marks a major step in expanding unmanned reconnaissance and precision support within Army aviation units.

The U.S. Army confirmed in a November 24, 2025, release from the U.S. Department of War that aviation soldiers at Fort Rucker began hands-on training with the VXE30 Stalker Unmanned Aircraft System on November 18, 2025, as the service prepares to field the system next month. Officials said the early operations phase includes flight rehearsals, maintenance instruction, and mission-planning work that will help integrate the Stalker into a broader, layered reconnaissance and strike network designed for future aviation formations.
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U.S. Army Aviation soldiers, Sgt. Joshua Capers and Staff Sgt. Alwyne Smith of the 1st Aviation Brigade adjust the position of a VXE30 Stalker uncrewed aircraft during a training session at Fort Rucker on November 18, 2025.(Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

The VXE30 Stalker was selected following extensive observations from recent battlefields where reduced signatures, flexible launch options, and extended endurance are central to survivability. Its vertical takeoff capability enables the aircraft to launch and recover from confined sites without a runway, supporting dispersed aviation operations and forward teams operating in restrictive terrain. Fort Rucker and Fort Huachuca will serve as the first installations to introduce the system formally to operators before it enters aviation brigades across the force.

Maj. Wolf Amacker, chief of the UAS (Unmanned Aircraft System) and Tactics Branch at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence’s Training and Doctrine Directorate, said the arrival of the Stalker marks a milestone in the Army’s layered reconnaissance strategy. He noted that the new aircraft offers significantly improved endurance, reduced acoustic signature, and broader payload flexibility than earlier systems in its class.

The U.S. War Department categorizes UAS into five groups based on weight, altitude, and speed, with Group 3 systems typically weighing between 56 and 320 pounds (25 to 145 kilograms) and operating up to 18,000 feet (5,486 meters). Although the Stalker shares performance characteristics with Group 3 aircraft, it offers a dramatically smaller logistics footprint than legacy platforms. The system weighs approximately 49 pounds (22 kilograms) and is compact enough to transport inside a standard SUV or military utility truck. Its design allows two soldiers to assemble and prepare the aircraft in about ten minutes, enabling rapid launches during high-tempo operations.

A defining characteristic of the VXE30 is its propulsion flexibility. The aircraft can operate using a propane fuel cell or a rechargeable battery. When powered by its fuel cell, the Stalker achieves more than 8 hours of flight endurance, corresponding to over 480 minutes of continuous operation. Its communication range extends up to 100 miles (160 kilometers), allowing aviation units to conduct surveillance and targeting missions far beyond the immediate maneuver area. The propulsion system is engineered to be nearly inaudible at short range, improving survivability in contested areas where adversaries use acoustic sensors to detect low-flying drones.

Maj. Rachel Martin, director of the U.S. Air Cavalry Leaders Course and the Unmanned Advanced Lethality Course, highlighted that the Stalker’s adaptability allows instructors to evolve the Army’s reconnaissance and precision engagement curriculum. The UAS employs a modular open systems architecture, enabling rapid integration of updated electro-optical and infrared sensors, alternative navigation tools, and mission-specific payloads. It also connects to the Army’s Common Lethality Integration Kit, allowing soldiers to select and employ warheads at the user level, including newly developed effects and legacy munitions such as 81 mm mortar-based payloads.

The introduction of the VXE30 reflects a broader shift within U.S. Army aviation as brigades transition from centralized UAS detachments to integrated unmanned capabilities embedded directly within combat aviation units. This shift is driven by the need for persistent intelligence collection, rapid sensor-to-shooter timelines, and resilient reconnaissance in electronically contested environments. As the Army advances its Future Vertical Lift initiatives, drones like the Stalker will operate alongside manned helicopters to provide real-time targeting information, route surveillance, and battle damage assessment.

Training at Fort Rucker will continue through December as instructors incorporate the VXE30 into aviation leadership classes and advanced UAS courses. Soldiers will learn to plan missions, execute vertical takeoff procedures, employ ISR payloads, and integrate the system into battalion and brigade operations. The service intends to provide operators with full proficiency before the UAS is distributed more broadly across Army aviation formations through 2026.

Strategically, the fielding of the VXE30 Stalker strengthens the U.S. Army’s ability to project long-endurance reconnaissance and precision effects across dispersed and contested environments. Its long endurance, low acoustic signature, rapid assembly time, and minimal logistics footprint support the Pentagon’s broader modernization strategy and enhance joint force readiness for future conflicts.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.