Utah-based defense company Vector has unveiled the Warfighter’s Stack, an integrated one-way attack drone system that combines its Mace quadcopter, electronic arming device and a controller.
In a Nov. 2 announcement, Andy Yakulis, Vector’s co-founder and chief executive officer, said the stack was designed for intuitive operation and scaled production.
“Modern warfare requires more than individual platforms. It requires systems that work together, operators who can employ them effectively, and the industrial capacity to produce them at the scale the mission demands,” Yakulis said.
The Warfighter’s Stack builds on Vector’s experience participating in the Defense Department’s Drone Dominance Program, an effort to rapidly expand and improve the domestic commercial drone industry through competition.
The Pentagon also uses the program to identify top-performing drone manufacturers and place orders with them. Vector ranked fourth in the close-quarters battle category during the latest round of competition, resulting in a government order for 5,000 of its drones.
According to the company, the Warfighter’s Stack consists of the Mace drone, a High-Voltage Electronic Safe and Arm Device, or HV-ESAD, and the Hilt hand controller. “Together, the systems connect the aircraft, energetic integration, and controller into a single operational architecture,” the company said.
Vector described the Mace as a compact, attritable drone — meaning inexpensive and relatively easy to replace — designed to maneuver through “confined and complex environments.”
According to Vector, the drone features low-light and thermal cameras, electronic warfare-resistant capabilities and support for fiber-optic control. It also includes an altitude-hold feature intended to reduce operator workload.
Additionally, the Mace can integrate with the Android Team Awareness Kit, or ATAK, and supports both ArduPilot and Betaflight piloting firmware.
The company’s HV-ESAD is a universal system designed to integrate with a range of drone platforms and munitions. Vector said the modular device was selected to support the Drone Dominance Program.
The company said the Hilt controller was built “around the requirements of the modern warfighter,” with a design intended for use with gloved hands and alongside other military equipment.
Yakulis described the controller as “a purpose-built interface that is rugged, adaptable, and designed to work with the systems they are actually operating.”
According to the announcement, Vector designed the Warfighter’s Stack with production scale in mind and says it can “fulfill orders in the thousands.” However, the company declined to provide details on contracts or timelines.
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