AAI unveils Shadow M2

photo AAI

12.10.2011 By: Zach Rosenberg – Flight Global

Washington DC - AAI has unveiled the Shadow M2, a modified version of the RQ-7B Shadow unmanned air vehicle (UAV).

The Shadow M2 is significantly larger and heavier than its predecessor, the US Army's standard tactical UAV. The wingspan has been expanded from 20ft to 25ft, and the aircraft has added 120lb.The Shadow M2 boasts a redesigned fuselage, replacing the signature box with a streamlined, lift-generating structure.

"Basically the internal guts are the same internal guts that are in the upgraded RQ-7B" said Steven Reid, senior vice president. "It's just that we can now carry additional payload and make use of that increased bandwidth that the TCDL [tactical common datalink] gives us."

With the M2 upgrades, Shadow can carry two separate payloads, instead of the standard single EO/IR turrets. Discussions are underway to test a number of payloads, including two synthetic aperture radars (SAR), wide-area surveillance, signals intelligence and electronic warfare packages.

The modified version, which includes the new wings now being retrofitted to Marine Corps RQ-7Bs, extends the wingspan to 25ft from just over 20. The longer wingspan, combined with the lift-generating new fuselage, extends the flight duration to 16h.

The aircraft will use a new Lycoming engine that generates 60lb of thrust, up from 35lb, and a five-blade propeller. The engine is undergoing static tests, and is expected to make a first flight in spring, 2012.

"It's up against the stops on all the constraints, but it's the most performance you can get out of this tactical class," said Reid.

Design of the M2 has not been wholly finalised, and none have yet been produced. A test bed, called Shadow M, has been flying for several months. The first flight of Shadow is expected in late summer 2012, depending on customer interest.

The M2 is heavy enough to require modifications to the existing AAI launcher, though the extent of modifications has not been determined.

AAI simulated 21 different versions before choosing the current configuration.