We don't have to tell you all the ways that the government
doesn't work or the many many ways in which our treasured tax bucks
go astray -- but here's one story that seems to be a far more
positive one... and it involves the US military.
For many military operations around the world, the only way to
get solid info and valuable data is to get airborne -- which
requires an extensive support network, no little expense and the
risk of a flight crew... unless you factor in the Shadow UAV.
Today's Shadow is used to locate, recognize and identify targets
up to 125km from a brigade tactical operations center. The Shadow
200 has a wingspan of about 13 feet and an overall weight of 350
pounds. It can fly as high as 14,000 feet at 70 knots for as long
as four hours at a time. The system recognizes tactical vehicles by
day and night from an altitude of 8000' and at a slant range of
3.5km. Imagery and telemetry data is transmitted in near-real time
from the Shadow ground control station to joint stars common ground
station, all-sources analysis system and to the army field
artillery targeting and direction system.
Shadow is in operational service in Afghanistan and in Iraq. The
Shadow TUAS had achieved 350,000 total flight hours as of October
2008. The vast majority of the systems’ flight hours have
been in support of Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom in
Iraq and Afghanistan. The system has proven to be valuable that the
its most recent 50000 hours of use was achieved a mere four months
after totaling 300,000 total flight hours as of May 2008 -- and it
hasn't been sitting still in the interim.
So... how do you train operators of this generation of high-tech
UAV?
Awarded by the Army’s Program Executive Office for
Simulation, Training, and Instrumentation in Orlando, Fla., an
initial order, valued at $11.9 million, provides for 25 high
fidelity Shadow Crew Trainers (SCT) and interactive multimedia
instruction. Including four option years, the contract has a total
potential value of $31.1 million. AAI produces and supports a
complete family of advanced tactical unmanned aircraft systems,
including Shadow systems flown by the U.S. Army, National Guard,
and Marine Corps. Each Shadow Crew Trainer features two simulated
One System Ground Control Stations, a role player, and a ground
crew launch and recovery station controlled by an integrated
instructor/operator station.
FMI: www.aaicorp.com, www.textronsystems.com, www.textron.com, www.army.mil, www.aero-tv.net, www.youtube.com/aerotvnetwork,
http://twitter.com/AeroNews