Redwire Stalker Group 2 UAS Demonstrates Command & Control Integration at Ivy Sting IV

Redwire recently demonstrated the integration of its Stalker Uncrewed Aircraft System (UAS) with the U.S. Army’s Next Generation Command and Control (NGC2) tactical network during the Ivy Sting IV exercise at Fort Carson.

Working alongside the 4th Infantry Division, the Stalker UAS functioned as a native, discoverable node on the mesh network rather than a standalone sensor. This integration allowed the aircraft to deliver real-time position location information and full-motion video across the entire NGC2 ecosystem with minimal manual configuration. Built with a Modular Open Systems Approach (MOSA), the Group 2 UAS leveraged open-architecture waveforms to act as a routing node, extending the reach of the network to the tactical edge.

Joshua Stinson, Chief Growth Officer at Redwire Defense Tech, said, “As the only fixed-wing VTOL to support this exercise, the Stalker’s deployment at Ivy Sting demonstrates how the aircraft’s modularity results in ease of integration with multiple Army networks. The Stalker’s endurance, advanced capabilities, and maturity allow it to fulfill brigade level tasks normally covered by Group 3 aircraft—but with a much smaller logistics footprint.”

The exercise highlighted the transition from legacy systems to a fully encrypted network designed to increase data flow and accelerate decision-making. During the maneuvers, the Stalker populated data directly into a Stryker Infantry Carrier Vehicle to provide immediate battle damage assessments. Furthermore, the integration allowed data to flow into the Artillery Execution Suite, enabling the 4th Infantry Division’s Division Artillery (DIVARTY) to process fire missions and assess targets faster than previous systems allowed.

Redwire’s Flight Operations team has supported the Ivy Sting series over several months, collaborating with more than 6,000 soldiers. This effort aligns with the Pentagon’s Joint All-Domain Command and Control (JADC2) vision, which seeks to link sensors and weapons across all military domains into a single secure network. By eliminating the bottlenecks associated with siloed legacy systems, the Army aims to achieve a more unified picture of the battlefield.

The Stalker is already a combat-proven system utilized in various Army programs, including training at the U.S. Army Aviation Center of Excellence and long-range reconnaissance contracts for enhanced surveillance. As the military moves toward Project Convergence-Capstone 6, the ability for assets to provide “plug-and-fight” integration is becoming the standard for the modern networked battlefield.