Ongoing System Enhancements Boost Performance, Reliability
AAI
Corporation said Tuesday that its Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft
Systems (TUAS) have completed 100,000 missions. With 113 systems
ordered and 87 delivered, Shadow systems are deployed with the U.S.
Army, Army National Guard, Army Special Forces and Marine Corps.
These systems have amassed more than 445,000 flight hours, the
majority of which have been in support of combat operations in Iraq
and Afghanistan.
Ongoing system upgrades have been critical to enhancing the
system’s performance and reliability, enabling customers to
evolve and expand mission profiles. While initially utilized as a
day/night reconnaissance platform, AAI is now adding the capability
to acquire and designate a target to its Shadow TUAS. In addition,
deployed Shadow aircraft also are being equipped with a Single
Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System, or SINCGARS,
communications relay.
“The Shadow aircraft’s mission set continues to
expand through our ongoing enhancement activities,” says Vice
President of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Steven Reid. “We are
fortunate to have several touch points with our users, from focus
groups to direct feedback received by our field service
representatives who work alongside deployed Shadow units. This
valuable feedback keeps us connected to our customers’
ever-changing mission needs so we can deliver system upgrades that
meet those needs or anticipate new ones.”
Among current upgrades is a new lithium battery designed to
provide power in the event of generator failure, giving the
aircraft more than an hour and a half of additional flight time to
land safely on base without necessitating an emergency parachute
recovery. AAI also is integrating a new electronic fuel injection
engine and a new fuel delivery system, which together are expected
to bolster system reliability. The new battery, electronic fuel
injection engine and fuel delivery system are expected to be
fielded starting in late 2009.
AAI’s interoperable ground control technologies also are
growing in maturity to deliver a wider range of user capabilities.
The company’s new Universal Ground Control Station, or UGCS,
builds on the successful One System® Ground Control Station
with greater operational flexibility and scalability, as well as
enhanced features for command and control, joint services
interoperability, information exchange and user ergonomics.
“The Shadow system of today is not the Shadow system of
six years ago, when it was first deployed into combat
operations,” says Reid. “Its capabilities, reliability
and user friendliness have grown exponentially. What won’t
change is the teamwork AAI employees display to keep these valuable
assets in the field with more than 95 percent availability, our
commitment to developing the most robust system possible, and our
responsiveness to existing and future user needs.”
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