Baton Rouge Police Deploy Military-Grade Stalker VXE30 Surveillance Drone.

The Baton Rouge Police Department (BRPD) recently announced the deployment of a new, large Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV).

This move marks a significant shift in local law enforcement aerial surveillance. The aircraft is the Edge Autonomy Stalker VXE30. It was designed by military equipment manufacturer Lockheed Martin. The BRPD is reportedly the first local police department in the United States to operate this specific model.

Stalker VXE30 Specifications

The Lockheed Martin Stalker VXE30 is a fixed-wing aircraft. It is built for long-endurance reconnaissance missions. The drone features a substantial 16-foot wingspan. It also has vertical take-off and landing (VTOL) capability. This allows for operation in areas without a runway.

The drone is equipped with a thermal camera. This camera offers powerful zoom capabilities for police aerial surveillance. The total cost for the drone, training, and batteries was approximately $1 million.

Regulatory and Operational Context

All unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) must adhere to Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules. The Stalker VXE30 is currently limited to a maximum altitude of 400 feet. This is the standard maximum height allowed by the FAA for this class of aircraft.

The BRPD has 24 FAA-licensed drone pilots for its fleet of 31 drones. The department is working with the FAA to expand the drone's operational range. The current range is about 30 miles. The department seeks approval to increase this to 100 miles. Achieving this would require a waiver for operations Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS). This is a key area of development in civilian airspace integration.

Shift to UAV Technology

The decision to acquire the military-grade surveillance drone follows a tragic incident. In 2023, the BRPD lost its helicopter program. A police chopper crash took the lives of two officers. Police Chief TJ Morse stated the department is now heavily invested in UAV technology. The Stalker VXE30 is the new flagship of the department's aerial support unit.

This acquisition highlights a growing trend in law enforcement. Agencies are increasingly replacing traditional manned aircraft with more cost-effective drones. The use of the Edge Autonomy Stalker VXE30 Edge Autonomy for domestic law enforcement raises questions. These questions center on privacy and the use of military-developed technology in civilian environments. The platform was originally designed for intelligence and reconnaissance in combat theaters.

• The BRPD is the first local police department to deploy the Edge Autonomy Stalker VXE30.
• The military-grade surveillance drone features a 16-foot wingspan and VTOL capability.
• The UAV operates under FAA drone regulations at a maximum altitude of 400 feet.
• The $1 million acquisition replaces the department's lost helicopter program from 2023.

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