Italy Upgrades its Army with Shadow UAVs

RQ-7, Iraq(click to view larger) Textron subsidiary AAI Corporation recently announced that Italy’s Ministry of Defense Directorate of General Aeronautical Armament will buy 4 RQ-7B Shadow 200 systems for the Italian Army, under a EUR 51 million (about $64 million) contract. The systems are being bought “for deployment alongside NATO forces,” which presumably involves Italy’s sector in northwestern Afghanistan [PDF]. The buy was reportedly a multi-vendor competition, and AAI will partner with select Italian defense suppliers, including RIGEL International Engineering & Consultancy Agency. System deliveries are expected to begin in 2011. A single Shadow system includes 4 UAVs; 4 One System Remote Video Terminals (OSRVTs); 2 One System Ground Control Systems and ground data terminals; a One System portable ground control station; and associated components and support equipment. In addition to its use by the US Army and Marines, the Shadow 200 reportedly has operators and buyers in Australia, Pakistan, Turkey, and Sweden. A larger Shadow 600 variant has served with Romanian Forces. [youtube:http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lODpyAFDufE] Shadow RQ7-Bravo UAVclick to play video The RQ-7B Shadow 200 expands the original Shadow’s wingspan to 14 feet, endurance to 6 hours, and payload to 45 pounds. Its main payload is IAI Tamam’s POP300 with an […]