Army UAV shows size doesn't matter at
Farnborough International Air Show
By Staff Sgt. Heather M. Norris
52nd
Fighter Wing Public Affairs
FARNBOROUGH, United Kingdom -- Sitting in
the shadows of a C-17 Globemaster at the Farnborough
International Air Show here, is the much smaller but equally
important RQ-7B Shadow.
Weighing in at approximately 460 pounds
fully fueled, this compact unmanned aerial vehicle provides
critical battlefield intelligence to key components instantly
and its mobility allows for set up in less than one hour.
"It's an opportunity to showcase the only
Army asset here", said Lt. Col. Jennifer Jensen, U.S. Army
Security project office production manager. "We
are actively engaged in the war effort so it's
great to be able to bring the Shadow here. The United Kingdom is
our closest ally, and this event brings everyone together in one
spot."
The Army uses a variety of systems to
support soldiers in theatre, with UAVs providing eyes forward on
the battlefield.
The Army logs more unmanned flying hours than manned flying
hours-approximately 20,000 per month in theater.
The RQ-7B Shadow is considered to be the
main work horse of the Army's UAV arsenal. According to Colonel
Jenkins, the one-system remote video terminal used in the RQ-7B
Shadow provides customers on the battlefield access to
information they have never had before.
"The near real-time feed is linked to the
units, not just the operator", said Colonel Jenkins.
"It helps all ground forces
communicate-extending across the battlefield. It is the way of
the future, enabling teaming while
reducing risk."
Teaming, the pairing of units with unmanned
aerial systems, is one of many advantages of the RQ-7B Shadow.
This attribute enhances joint service mission
capabilities.
The Army RQ-7B Shadow meets the dynamic
needs of Marine Corps units by increasing their operational
capabilities in theater. The main benefit of the UAS is the time
saved from target acquisition to action.
Capt. Bret Morris, Marine Corps UH-1 Yankee
pilot, said that in the past after intelligence was gathered,
the UH-1 returned to an installation where it was analyzed. The
target was actioned on a later mission.
"[With the RQ-7B Shadow]we acquire the
coordinates instantly and then set up 5-7 miles out and just
shoot the missile" said Captain Morris.
Just as with any aircraft, maintenance has
to be accomplished daily for proper performance. Current war
environments are not ideal for this type of technology.
"It's
an easy to maintain system as long as you do preventative
maintenance" said Mr. Rick Falk, AAI Field Service
Representative. "We know cleanliness
is next to godliness."
The Army RQ-7B Shadow and its launcher is
now on display for over 285,000 spectators at the 2010
Farnborough International Air Show 19-25 July.
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