AAI Corporation, HUNT VALLEY, Md.: U.S. Army RQ-7A Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) systems have achieved new, major milestones of flight, surpassing 10,000 flight hours and 2,500 sorties while performing surveillance and reconnaissance for coalition warfighters in Operation Iraqi Freedom.
The record marks for cumulative flight hours and sorties were achieved in mid-August.
“The performance of Shadow systems in support of our soldiers has been outstanding,” said Steve Reid, Shadow TUAV program director for AAI Corporation, prime contractor for the Shadow TUAV program. “The air vehicles, ground control stations, and support systems have delivered when called on in the harsh combat environment of Iraq. We are very proud of the Shadow systems and the soldiers who operate them so well.”
AAI has delivered 19 Shadow TUAV systems: 15 to U.S. Army and National Guard operational units and four to the Army's TUAV training center at Ft. Huachuca, Arizona.
Fielding of Shadow TUAV systems was recently accomplished by Maryland and Pennsylvania National Guard units in training at Redstone Arsenal in Alabama.
Production and delivery of the 100th RQ-7A Shadow TUAV air vehicle was completed in July 2004. Soon thereafter AAI began delivering a new model Shadow TUAV, designated the RQ-7B, with slightly larger wings, a modified tail assembly, and an extended flight endurance capability.
AAI Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of United Industrial Corporation (NYSE: UIC – News), is a company focused on the design and production of defense and training systems. In addition to unmanned aerial vehicle systems, its products include training and simulation systems, automated aircraft test and maintenance equipment, and logistical/engineering services for government- owned equipment.
