Indago 4 is Lockheed Martin's Group 1 tactical quadrotor UAS for short-range ISR. The backpackable system combines modular electro-optical/infrared payloads, 50-70 minute endurance, and Northstar visual navigation for small-unit reconnaissance.
The UK MOD said Indago 4 is already used by the U.S. military and will be delivered to UK Armed Forces under Project Tiquila; the public record documents fielding and service context, but not a single named combat theater.
The 2022 UK order bundled Indago 4 with Stalker VXE30 as a mini-drone package for UK Armed Forces and set a delivery target of the end of 2024. DE&S later said both systems were being assessed for Project TIQUILA's ISTAR user community, with Stalker trials completed first and Indago 4 trials expected to follow.
159 rotary-wing systems in the UK order.
The MOD described Indago 4 as backpack-carried and already used by the U.S. military.
105 fixed-wing systems in the same mini-UAS package.
The package pairs Indago 4 with a longer-endurance fixed-wing mini-UAS.
£129 million contract replacing the existing UK mini-UAS capability.
The program is structured for iterative capability upgrades over its 10-year life.
Indago 4 is the next-generation member of Lockheed Martin's Indago quadrotor UAS family, introduced after Indago 3 with greater payload capacity, longer endurance, updated radios, common control software, and on-edge computing.
| Variant | Configuration | Designation notes |
|---|---|---|
| Indago 3 | Earlier Indago quadrotor UAS | Lockheed Martin described Indago 4 as the next-generation Indago system based on operator feedback and preserving the earlier family's quiet tactical footprint. Sources: 5 Small Unmanned Products to Watch This Year, Unlocking the Future: Indago 4 Tactical Quadcopter | Lockheed Martin |
Lockheed Martin's feature article presents Indago 4 as a next-generation tactical quadcopter with on-edge computing, modular payload bays, and 2-minute deployment.
Sources: Unlocking the Future: Indago 4 Tactical Quadcopter | Lockheed Martin
The UK Ministry of Defence announced a £129 million Project Tiquila order for 159 Indago 4 systems and 105 Stalker VXE30s for UK Armed Forces.
Sources: DE&S orders cutting-edge mini-drones for UK Armed Forces
Elsight said its Halo connectivity platform was integrated with Indago 4 for beyond-visual-line-of-sight flights during a strategic collaboration exercise.
Sources: Elsight Powers Indago 4 UAS with Robust BVLOS Communications
DE&S reported that Project TIQUILA was assessing Stalker VXE30 and Indago 4 for UK Forces, with Stalker flight trials completed and Indago 4 trials expected next.
Sources: Cutting-edge Stalker mini drone undertakes rigorous trials
A UK parliamentary answer said Project TIQUILA had delivered Stalker VXE30 and Indago 4 equipment to front-line units for training, with Indago 4 initial operating capability planned for June 2025.
Sources: UK Parliament Project TIQUILA written answer
DE&S said Indago 4 was known as Kestrel by UK frontline users and listed updated Project TIQUILA fielding characteristics for the quadcopter.
Sources: TIQUILA drone project achieves capability milestones
Lockheed Martin's 2024 product material emphasizes design choices that make Indago 4 portable, quick to launch, and adaptable to different observation tasks.
Quadrotor VTOL airframe with automatic high-speed descent and flared landing.
The foldable layout is meant for backpack carriage and rapid launch.
Three payload interfaces, with Noctis Dual IR, ION 30X MK2, Heimdal by AirRobot, and Trillium HD 40 integrations identified in Lockheed material.
The official brochure lists electro-optical/infrared payloads for day/night identification and geolocation tasks.
Northstar visual-based navigation, ATAK or VCSi ground-control software, and multiple radio configurations.
The official product page frames Northstar as the navigation layer for GPS-denied environments.
