Navy establishes test and evaluation program to define new roles for AAI Shadow small tactical UAV

HUNT VALLEY, Md., 6 Nov. 2011. Officials of the U.S. Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division UAS Test Directorate at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., has established and demonstrated a dedicated Shadow tactical unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for test and evaluation -- primarily for U.S. Marine Corps users, Navy officials announced. The Shadow UAV is from AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) in Hunt Valley, Md.The Shadow UAV is replacing the old Pioneer UAVs in the Navy and Marine Corp inventory. The last Pioneer UAV was retired from service in 2007. Shadow Tactical UAVs are in service with the U.S. Army and National Guard, as well as the Marine Corps, and have been selected for allied armed forces in Italy and Sweden. Shadow systems have amassed more than 680,000 total flight hours.The dedicated Shadow UAV test and evaluation system will enable Marine Corps planners to demonstrate new and innovative operational concepts for Shadow, as well as to validate new missions for the small UAV. The dedicated Shadow will support Navy and Marine Corp research and test of wide focal plane array camera (WFPAC) payload development, which will enable Shadow system users to conduct persistent surveillance over wide search areas, Navy officials say.

For more information contact AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems online at www.aaicorp.com.