Four Additional Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems

United Industrial Corporation, HUNT VALLEY: United Industrial Corporation announced today that its wholly owned subsidiary AAI Corporation has received an order from the U.S. Army for production of four additional Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS). 
 
The total value of the four advanced Shadow systems, which the Army designates as RQ-7B systems, is $39.2 million. 
 
“We are pleased that our Army customer continues to order additional Shadow systems — a reflection of the maturity, reliability, and capabilities of this amazing military asset,” said AAI's Vice President of Unmanned Aircraft Systems Steven E. Reid. “As the Army's tactical unmanned aircraft system of choice, Shadow's role continues to grow in providing critical battlefield and urban situational awareness to warfighters in harm's way.” 
 
Since December 1999, when the U.S. Army selected AAI to be the service's TUAS prime contractor, the company has been awarded a series of contracts for the continued production of Shadow systems. To date, 74 systems have been ordered, including 296 aircraft and 148 ground control stations. Each system is composed of four aircraft, two ground control stations, and other components. 
 
This new order extends system deliveries through January 2009. Shadow production work is performed at AAI's manufacturing facilities in Hunt Valley, Md. 
 
Worldwide, Shadow systems have flown more than 47,000 sorties and greater than 192,000 flight hours — more than 88 percent in support of U.S. and allied operations in Iraq and Afghanistan. 
 
In addition to the production and upgrade of Shadow systems, AAI provides performance-based logistics support and sustainment for fielded and deployed U.S. Army TUAS units.  
 
AAI also manufactures a number of other operationally-unique unmanned aircraft systems, and the company is recognized for its design and development of advanced ground control stations and interoperable network technologies.