RQ-7 Shadow UAV

Abstract

The Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) RQ-7 Shadow provides the Army Brigade Commander with dedicated Reconnaissance, Surveillance and Target Acquisition (RSTA), Intelligence, Battle Damage Assessment (BDA) and Force Protection. It also provides the Brigade Commander with critical battlefield intelligence and targeting information in the rapid cycle time required for success at the tactical level. The TUAV Shadow system air vehicle meets the required operating range of 50 kilometers and remains on station for up to nine hours. The TUAV Shadow system consists of four air vehicles (each configured with an Electro Optical/Infrared (EO/IR) sensor payload), launcher, ground control and support equipment including: power generation, communications equipment, automated recovery equipment, one system remote video terminals, vehicle mounted shelters, and High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles with trailer(s). Each system is equipped with one Maintenance Section Multifunctional (MSM) and is supported at the division level by a Mobile Maintenance Facility (MMF). All 102 Shadow UAS systems have been procured and fielded. Shadow has amassed over 803,326 total flight hours, most of which were flown in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF). Incremental upgrades are required for continued improvement and interoperability. Common Systems Integration is required to ensure interoperability with other manned and unmanned weapon systems, to include One System Remote Video Terminal (OSRVT). Continued developmental improvements are required to provide greater interoperability, increase operational capability and flexibility to the Brigade Combat Team. Modifications to the airframe, avionics, payloads, ground control equipment, and support equipment are based on documented requirements and lessons learned from units operating in OEF and OIF. Justification: FY2014 RQ-7 UAV Base funding of $12.031 million will be used for capability and reliability improvements, specifically: Air Vehicle modifications (Engine Improvements, GPS Landing, System Vulnerability, and Redundant Avionics Development), and Ground Equipment (interoperability) improvements. Additionally, funds will be for System Engineering, Program Management, Software Architecture and Reliability Solutions, and System Test and Evaluation support. Funds will also be used to incorporate the Increment II OSRVT Bi-Directional capability, ensure interoperability, and applicable OSRVT test events.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2014
Source ID
0305233A_7_2040_PB_2014
Change Summary Explanation
Service Agency Name
Army

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Army

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • Autonomy
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Afghanistan Conflict
  • Aircrafts
  • Airframes
  • Avionics
  • Battle Damage Assessment
  • Contracts
  • Corporations
  • Cost Analysis
  • Damage Assessment
  • Engineering
  • Ground Control Stations
  • Lessons Learned
  • Program Management
  • Reliability
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
  • Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) Autonomous Capabilities and Mission Reconnaissance.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Space

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