A43- Shadow Uav

The Shadow UAV has been allocated the A43- serial prefix

Another new aircraft that needs a page started

Any volunteers?

Attached Image

I'll make up a starter page - but a new page auther is very welcome!

BC

I'd be happy to do it.

Will find out what I can about the airframes here already.

Thanks Batman,
Let us know your preferred format for editing and we will get the bare bones page to you to fill in
Cheers
Martin

Thanks Batman,

I'll have that ready for you in the morning.

You're a star!

Welcome to the ADF-Serials page authors club.

Brendan

Gee Martin, I don't know. Word table format?

What do most people use?

Hi,

You can start with that and save the table as HTML if you like (using the save as feature).

If you are more adventurous you can use a web editor.

I'll make up a page, and we can work out what you're comfortable with.

B)

BC

Some background for all

Airborne Surveillance for Land Operations - JP 129 Phase 2

This phase of the project seeks to provide two Tactical Uninhabited Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) systems; each comprising five air vehicles, two ground control stations, a tactical launch and recovery element, and associated tactical support systems.

In July 2010 JP129 was given second pass approval by the Australian Government to acquire two RQ-7B Shadow 200 Unmanned Aerial Systems via a Foreign Military Sales agreement with the US Government. The Shadow 200 is an in-service system with the US Army and Marines and has over 500,000 flying hours on record. Australia's Shadow systems will be launched from a trailer mounted pneumatic catapult, and each air vehicle will carry both Optical and Infra-Red cameras along with a Laser Target Designator.

The first Shadow system will be delivered to Australia in the second half of 2011 with the second system to follow in 2013.

That's about 8 UAVs minimum, but talk of about 18

Background: RQ-7 Shadow 200 Tactical UAV System

The Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) system is designed as a ground maneuver commander's primary day/night reconnaissance, surveillance, target acquisition, and battle damage assessment system.

The Shadow 200 is a small, lightweight, tactical UAV system. The system is comprised of air vehicles, modular mission payloads, ground control stations, launch and recovery equipment, and communications equipment. It will carry enough supplies and spares for an initial 72 hours of operation. It will be transportable in two high mobility multi-purpose wheeled vehicles (HMMWVs) with shelters, and two additional HMMWVs with trailers as troop carriers.

A single TUAV system includes three Shadow 200 air vehicles with a fourth air vehicle as part of the issued equipment of the maintenance section. The air vehicle is constructed of composite materials, with a wingspan of 12.3 feet, and length of 11.2 feet. Power is provided by a commercial 38-horsepower rotary engine that uses motor gasoline (MOGAS). The payload has a commercially available electro-optic and infrared camera, and communications equipment for command and control and imagery dissemination. Onboard global positioning system instrumentation provides navigation information.

The air vehicle is intended to provide coverage of a brigade area of interest for up to four hours, at 50 kilometers from the launch and recovery site. The maximum range is 125 kilometers (limited by data link capability), and operations are generally conducted from 8,000 to 10,000 feet above ground level during the day and 6,000 to 8,000 feet above ground level at night. The air vehicle uses a pneumatic launcher and is recovered by a tactical automatic landing system without pilot intervention on the runway. The air vehicle is stopped using an arresting hook and cable system.

The TUAV system must provide 12 hours of continuous operations within a 24-hour period. It must be able to surge to 18 hours within a 24-hour period, for up to three consecutive days. The system must be able to keep pace with a brigade's movement, with rapid emplacement/displacement times. An air vehicle may be passed between control stations or launch and recovery stations to facilitate these requirements.

Procurement cost for the Command and Control Suite, as well as two units of the Shadow 200 run at approximately $36 million. individual units of the Shadow 200 run at about $275,000 apiece at 2001 US Dollars

The proposed sale of the RQ-7B SHADOW 200 systems will improve Australia's capability to support ongoing ground operations in Afghanistan. Australia will also use the enhanced capability in future contingency operations encompassing humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and stability operations in the Asia-Pacific region. Australia will have no difficulty absorbing these systems into its armed forces.


The estimated cost is AUS$218 million, so baring the AUS US equity, thats alot TUAVs or a big price gouging Unit cost

So the 2010 comment may be price adjustment

In August 2010, the Australian Defence Ministry approved a $175m contract for 18 RQ-7B Shadow 200 TUASs and support systems for Australian troops operating in Afghanistan.

So whats the right cost or project cost?

In any case, it will be based at Enogera with 6th Brigade

Specs
The original RQ-7A air vehicle has a wingspan of 3.89m and carries a maximum payload of 25.3kg. The maximum endurance is five hours 30 minutes. The RQ-7B is a longer-endurance version, with increased wingspan of 4.27m and larger tail unit, payload up to 27.2kg and endurance of six to seven hours, depending on mission profile.

A new wing design developed for the aircraft expands the wingspan to 20ft. It will increase Shadow's payload capacity and endurance from six to nearly nine hours. The Shadow TUAS fitted with new extended wings completed its first flight in April 2010.

Engine

The air vehicle is powered by a UEL AR 741 rotary engine developing 28.3kW and driving a two-bladed pusher propeller. Fire and explosion-resistant fuel cells are installed in the wings. The RQ-7A and the longer-endurance RQ-7B models have a fuel capacity of 40l and 57l.

Payloads

The payloads are selected according to the mission requirements and include advanced electro-optical and infrared systems, planned synthetic aperture radar and moving target indicator, hyperspectral imagery, lightweight communications relay package, marker / illuminator, laser range finder and target designator.

The US Army Shadow 200 is fitted with the POP-200 or POP-300 lightweight electro-optical system supplied by IAI Tamam.

Shadow 200 is equipped with WESCAM 11SST (Step-Stare Turret), a lightweight EO payload. This payload provides a unique capability to rapidly cover a large area. The sensor captures seven video frames per second, images are compressed and streamed to the control station, where they are tiled together to create a hi-resolution digital image of a large area. 11SST covers up to 300km2 per hour, from an altitude or distance of 4,000m.

The payload can include an optional geo-positioning and image processing package that allows for flexible automatic positioning and automatic target tracking. The payload can also include third-generation 3-5nm InSb FLIR, an eyesafe laser rangefinder, and a colour daylight CCD sensor with x14 zoom lens (2.2-28.5mm).

Launch and recovery

The launch of the Shadow 200 TUAS can be conducted in two ways allowing the military personnel the flexibility to choose the most appropriate launch site during field operations. A standard wheeled take-off procedure can be used or the air vehicle can be launched from a hydraulic rail launcher.

The guidance of the air vehicle can be pre-programmed before take-off or remotely controlled during the flight.

The air vehicle climbs at a rate of 300m to 450m (1,000ft to 1,500ft) a minute. The vehicle has a cruise speed and quick-dash speed of 148km/h to 250km/h (80kt to 135kt) to proceed to the operating area. Its minimum speed is 111km/h (60kt).


Gordy <_<

Gordy

You are correct. One system (4 aircraft) has been delivered, I am working on the finer detail now.

The second system (4 aircraft) is planned for 2013 delivery, but may come early at the end of 2012.

Thanks Batman

Oh more reading, JP129 Phase 3 will look at the upgrade of current model to later specs in the forthcoming years, including extended wings and operational role equipment. That might account for the Phrase price difference.

Read also , confirming 18 airframes. So that's attrition buy included (maybe a few tubes of Humbrol Model Glue included?)

Back to Eagle Scan, there's been no mention of HMAS Pirie Experiment of flying these from the ship this year in Northern Area( or was that 2010) for use in UAV Ops at sea. Whether these are the ex Army Lease or a new one. Same method of operation, and caught per hanging line from a crane onboard

A lot cheaper to operate then a AP-3C or a Coast Guard Dash 8 I imagine, since they were using the usual Navy Fuel,..deemed "heavy fuel",..I imagine Marine Diesel instead of AvGas??????? Weird

Best
Gordy :ph34r:

some images...
http://www.adf-gallery.com.au/gallery/Shadow

Here the latest update on the Shadow 200 TUAS form the Defence Media Centre today:

Brendan C

By some simple arithmetic from the above figures the average mission is over 5 hours, quite impressive.