Australia – RQ-7B SHADOW 200 Unmanned Aircraft Systems

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Australia – RQ-7B SHADOW 200 Unmanned Aircraft Systems

The Defense Security Cooperation Agency notified Congress today of a possible Foreign Military Sale to Australia of two RQ-7B SHADOW 200 Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS), and associated equipment, parts, and logistical support for an estimated cost of $218 million.

The Government of Australia has requested a possible sale of two RQ-7B SHADOW 200 Unmanned Aircraft Systems, communication equipment to include 4 Ground Control Stations, support equipment, spare and repair parts, tools and test equipment, technical data and publications, personnel training and training equipment, U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, and other related elements of logistics support. The estimated cost is $218 million.

ASIAN DEFENCE: Australia – RQ-7B SHADOW 200 Unmanned Aircraft Systems

 

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Fleet of Shadow 200 unmanned spy planes to Australian protect troops in Afghanistan

AUSTRALIAN troops in Afghanistan will be better protected by a fleet of spy planes under a new $175 million deal.

Defence Minister John Faulkner will today announce that the Government has approved the purchase of 18 RQ-7B Shadow 200 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and support systems.

It is part of a $1.1 billion plan announced in the May budget to boost force protection for diggers serving in Afghanistan.

It comes on top of a $32 million lease deal for a C-RAM warning radar to counter rocket and mortar attacks.

The unarmed Shadow UAVs will carry a suite of sensors including high resolution video and still cameras, ultra violet sensors and laser direction finders high above patrolling troops to provide detailed intelligence about
enemy activity.

Ground troops will be able to view footage and data from the aircraft ``live'' in real time on ground terminals.

The information will almost certainly save lives as it will help to detect insurgents planting the roadside bombs that have claimed most of the 17 Australians killed in Afghanistan.

Troops have been using smaller Scan Eagle UAVs under a lease deal with US firm Boeing, but the Shadows will allow the troops to be completely autonomous.

In addition to the 18 ``birds'' two support systems will be purchased under the deal along with ground vehicles, training packages and through-life support.

The US-built Shadows are being sourced from the US military and will be used for battlefield surveillance, reconnaissance and target acquisition.

The high-tech sensor suite is built in Israel, but the aircraft will not be fitted with any weapons.

``The selection of the Shadow 200 system will provide the Australian Army with the most capable and operationally proven tactically mobile TUAV system that exists in any defence force,'' Senator Faulkner said.

``The Scan Eagle UAV will remain in service in the Middle East until the Shadow 200 is delivered.''

The Shadow is launched from a trailer-mounted pneumatic launcher and is retrieved using an arrester wire similar to an aircraft carrier.

It is powered by a 38hp engine, has a range in excess of 100km and eight-hour endurance.

The US army and marines have been using the system for years in Iraq and Afghanistan.

 

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