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RQ-7 Shadow

The RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is used by the United States Army and Marine Corps. Launched from a rail, it is recovered with the aid of arresting gear similar to jets on an aircraft carrier. Its gimbal-mounted, digitally-stabilized, liquid nitrogen-cooled electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera relays video in real time via a C-band LOS data link to the ground control station (GCS). The "R" is the Department of Defense designation for reconnaissance; "Q" means unmanned aircraft system. The "7" refers to it being the seventh of a series of purpose-built unmanned reconnaissance aircraft systems.

The Army's Unmanned Aircraft Systems Training Battalion at Fort Huachuca, AZ trains soldiers and civilians in the operation and maintenance of the Shadow UAV.

Development

The RQ-7 Shadow is the result of a continued US Army search for an effective battlefield UAV after the cancellation of the RQ-6 Outrider aircraft. AAI followed up their RQ-2 Pioneer UAV with the similar but refined Shadow 200, and in late 1999 the Army selected the Shadow 200 to fill the tactical UAV requirement, redesignating it the RQ-7. The Army requirement specified a UAV that used a gasoline engine, could carry an electro-optic/infrared imaging sensor turret, and had a minimum range of 31 miles (50 kilometers) with four hour endurance on station. The Shadow 200 offered at least twice that range, powered by a 38 hp (28.5 kW) rotary engine. The Army requirement dictated that it be able to land in a soccer field.

Each Shadow system includes four aircraft, two ground stations, a launch trailer, and support vehicles for equipment and personnel. A SIGINT payload is in development, and is scheduled for service in 2008. It will swap out with the EO turret. The Army does not currently have plans to arm the Shadow with light munitions.

With a highly trained platoon the Shadow 200 can be unpacked, fueled, and launched in 1 hour.

Quick-MEDS

The US Army Aviation & Missile Command (AMCOM) in Huntsville, Alabama, has developed a supply canister, named "Quick-MEDS (Medical Emergency Delivery System)", that can be carried in pairs by a Shadow and parachuted to front-line troops with medical supplies or other emergency gear. With the appearance of a little fat aerial bomb, it has a loaded weight of 9 kilograms (20 pounds), 75% of that being payload; dimensions of 81 by 20 centimeters (32 by 8); and four "lattice fins" on the tail. These are shaped like paddles, with the flat side facing the airstream, and contain a lattice of airfoils to provide the maximum flight surface in the smallest form factor. The idea was developed by the Russians and is licensed under Russian patents. Quick-MEDS has a crushable nose full of plastic foam and a parachute in the tail. Quick-MEDS could also be deployed by any helicopter or light aircraft. It has been designed to be scalable to 90 kilograms (200 pounds) and a GPS-guided version is being designed, for deliveries to troops in close contact with an enemy.

Operations

Shadow did not see service in the Afghanistan campaign of 2001-2002, but it did fly operational missions during the US Invasion of Iraq in 2003 and the subsequent occupation of that country. The operating conditions in Iraq proved hard on the UAVs, with heat and sand leading to engine failures, leading to a high-priority effort to find fixes with changes in system technology and operating procedures. Despite the difficulties, the RQ-7A Shadow was enthusiastically received by field commanders, and regarded as an important asset in helping fight Iraqi insurgents fighting US occupation forces. Shadow UAS have since flown more than 100,000 combined hours in support of OIF.

In 2007, the United States Marine Corps began to transition from the RQ-2 Pioneer to the RQ-7 Shadow. Both VMU-1 and VMU-2 now have their first systems of Shadow and will eventually have 3 systems each. A third UAS unit - VMU-3, will be activated on September 9, 2008 in due part to the increased demand for UAS systems in the Marine Coprs. Each shadow system in a VMU is roughly the same as an Army Shadow platoon--4 air vehicles and 2 ground control stations.

The Navy provided personnel for four Shadow platoons in support of Army brigades deployed in Iraq. The first two platoons returned from 6-month tours in Iraq in January and February 2008. The second two are in Iraq and should return in the summer of 2008. The Navy personnel went through the Army's training program at Fort Huachuca, AZ.

The Romanian Air Force has purchased 11 Shadow 600s, a larger, fuel injected Shadow variant. Some of these Romanian machines have been used in support of Polish troops serving in Iraq.

Variants

RQ-7B Shadow

Production of Shadow aircraft shifted to a generally improved RQ-7B variant in the summer of 2004. The RQ-7B features new wings increased in span by 91.4 centimeters (36 inches); the new wings are not only more aerodynamically efficient, they are "wet" to increase fuel storage for greater range and endurance. Endurance has been increased to 6 hours, and payload capability has been increased to 45 kilograms (100 pounds). After reports from Iraq that engines were failing, in 2005, the Army's UAV project manager called for the use of 100LL, an aviation fuel, rather than the conventional 87 octane mogas. Avionics systems have been generally improved, and the new wing is designed to accommodate a Communications Relay Package, which allows the aircraft to act as a relay station. This allows commanders or even the aircraft operators themselves to communicate via radio to the troops on ground in locations that would otherwise be "dead" to radio traffic.

The Shadow system has surpassed 300,000 flight hours in April 2008. As of July 2007, the Shadow platform accumulated 200,000 flight hours. It doubled its previous record of 100,000 hours in 13 months. The Shadow platform has flow over 37,000 sorties in support of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan by US Army and Army National Guard units. The US Marine Corps has completed its replacement of the aging Pioneer with the Shadow.

The Shadow system has also received a special airworthiness certificate (experimental) from the Federal Aviation Administration authorizing operations at Benson Municipal Airport, a general aviation facility in southeastern Arizona. This airworthiness certificate is the first issued by the FAA permitting an unmanned aircraft to operate at a public-use airport that serves general aviation, and the first FAA certificate covering the system's technologically sophisticated automated landing system. This is currently the only FAA certification category available to UAS manufacturers.

Shadow 600

AAI has also built a scaled-up Pioneer derivative known as the "Shadow 600". It also resembles a Pioneer, except that the outer panels of the wings are distinctively swept back, and it has a stronger wankel engine, the UAV EL 801 with 52hp. A number of Shadow 600s are in service in several nations, including Romania.

Specifications (RQ-7B)

fuel capacity: of 87 octane gasoline, also capable of 100LL Avgas (with few modifications) As of 2007 all Shadow 200's use 100LL, AVGAS.
payload:POP-200/300 27 kg (60 lb)