RQ-7 Shadow 200

Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2002
Total Production : 536
Total Cost : USD $750 million

Model Status Year Produced
RQ-7A Shadow 200 Active 2002 636



RQ-7A Shadow 200

Group : Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicles
Status : Active
Also Known As : RQ-7B Block II, RQ-7B Block III, RQ-7B Shadow 200
Origin : United States of America
Contractor : AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems
Initial Operational Capability (IOC) : 2002
Total Production : 636
Unitary Cost : USD $16.0 million

The RQ-7A Shadow 200 is an Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) designed to meet the US Amy requirements for a surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition UAV operable day or night, and limited adverse weather. It provides an initial range of 50 km to US regiments and brigades with a future, objective range extending to 200 km. In order to fulfill different mission profiles, the Shadow 200 UAV can accommodate different modular payloads. The Shadow 200 UAV requires a hydraulic rail launcher to takeoff and can land conventionally or through a deployable arresting hook. The RQ-7B is an improved variant incorporating changes to the wing, tail, and avionics that was introduced in August 2004.

Originally, the US Army planned to purchase up to 41 RQ-7 Shadow 200 unmanned aerial vehicle systems but the final number of systems to be procured by the Army could exceed 100. The 41 Shadow 200 systems translate into more than 123 Shadow 200 UAV air vehicles. In early 2003, the Shadow 200 began deployment in Iraq acting at Brigade level. In August 2005, BAE Systems announced that the US Army had placed a contract for 12 additional Shadow 200 unmanned aerial vehicle systems. As of August 2005, including this contract, the US Army has ordered 56 systems with 224 unmanned aerial vehicles. Deliveries, which began in 1999, were expected to be complete by November 2006. Shadow 200 is being offered to the Australian Defence Forces to meet its requirements for a tactical UAV. The US Marine Corps replaced their Shadow aircraft for the RQ-21A in 2018 and the US Army was considering a replacement in early 2019.

Operators
Country Status State Notes
AustraliaActive ?
ItalyActive 16 Four systems (16 air vehicles) ordered in July 2010
PakistanActive 12 Drones provided by the United States to Pakistan as part of war effort on terror in 2010
SwedenActive 8 Two systems ordered in May 2010
United States of AmericaActive 575/600 As of December 2009 AAI had received orders for a total of 116 Shadow TUAS systems (4 UAV aircraft per system) to be delivered by March 2011
Specifications
Notes
Crew 0
Number of Engines 1
Dimensions
Length 3.4 meter
Wingspan 20 foot Airframe upgraded since April 2010 from 14-ft to 20-ft
Mass
Max Takeoff Weight 149 kilogram
Payload 27.2 kilogram
Performance
Ceiling 4,572 meter
Max Range 50,000 meter
Power
Max Power at TakeOff 38 shp
Speed
Cruise Speed 160 kph
Top Speed at High Altitude 230 kph
Time
Flight Endurance 5 hour
Gear
Bombs
Pyros
Shadow Hawk
Combat Management Systems
Shadow 200 Ground Segment
Optronic Systems
Aurora Generation IV1

News

Saturday, 10 February, 2024
US Army Cancels Future Attack Reconnaissance Aircraft Program

The experience of the conflict in Ukraine forced the US defense department to reconsider its approaches to aviation programs.

Tuesday, 21 February, 2023
US Army to Upgrade RQ-7B Shawdow TUAS to Block III Configuration

HUNT VALLEY, Md., Feb. 21, 2023 – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced the U.

Tuesday, 9 November, 2021
US Army Orders RQ-7B Block 3 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System New Equipment Training

HUNT VALLEY, MD. – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, today announced that it has been awarded a Task Order valued up to $9.

Thursday, 18 March, 2021
US Army to Upgrade Shadow TUAV to Block III Standard

HUNT VALLEY, MD. – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today it received a contract for up to $607 million from the U.

Wednesday, 2 December, 2020
US Army Awards Contract for 36 Shadow Block III Aircraft

HUNT VALLEY, MD. – Textron Systems Corporation, a Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) company, announced today the sale of 36 Shadow aircraft in the latest Block III configuration to the U.

Wednesday, 6 February, 2019
US Army Looking for Potential RQ-7 Shadow UAV Replacement

The US Army is looking to find a replacement fleet for its current collection of Textron RQ-7 Shadow tactical unmanned air systems as a result of the UAVs' faulty acoustic signatures.

Tuesday, 19 June, 2018
DARPA to Fund X4 Silent Engine for Drones

The Pentagon’s secret weapons maker has awarded a contract to a company in Boston to build an engine that military officials believe has the potential to make drone aircraft

Monday, 9 January, 2017
Textron Systems Awarded Contract for Shadow TUAS Sustainment

HUNT VALLEY, Md. — JANUARY 9, 2016 — Textron Systems Support Solutions, a Textron Inc. (NYSE:TXT) business, announced today that it has been awarded a $206 million contract from the U.

Monday, 11 July, 2016
Fury Compact Weapon System Tested Successfully

FARNBOROUGH INTERNATIONAL AIR SHOW, ENGLAND – JULY 11, 2016 – Textron Systems Weapon and Sensor Systems, a business of Textron Inc.

Thursday, 28 April, 2016
US Army Orders 24 Advanced RQ-7B V2 Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System Upgrades

ATLANTA — APRIL 28, 2016 — ARMY AVIATION MISSION SOLUTIONS SUMMIT — Textron Systems Unmanned Systems, a Textron Inc.

Tuesday, 23 September, 2014
Fury Lightweight Precision Weapon Engages Target During Live-Fire Demonstrations

MARINE CORPS BASE, QUANTICO, Va. – SEPTEMBER 23, 2014 – Textron Systems Weapon & Sensor Systems, a Textron Inc.

Monday, 9 July, 2012
US Army and Marine Corps to Upgrade 45 RQ-7B Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems

HAMPSHIRE, England--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Jul. 9, 2012-- AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems, an operating unit of Textron Systems, a Textron Inc.

Photo Gallery

Notes

* Prime Contractor
State Latest Known holdings/Original Procurement
Com - Date of Commissioning
Decom - Date of Decommissioning

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