The latest advanced version of the Shadow M2 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft (TUAS) has been launched by AAI Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The launch took place at the annual meeting and exhibition of the Association of the US Army (AUSA) for the year 2011.
The Shadow M2 is an advanced version of the Shadow 200 TUAS, which has already established an impressive performance record in the US Army.
The Shadow M2 aircraft has a wingspan of 25 feet and its performance has been enhanced with improved endurance during extended military missions and by its ability to undertake new missions. The volume capabilities of the payload have also been increased by introducing dual payload bays and external wind hard points for avionics, sense-and-avoid equipment and other communication equipment. The increased payload volume and its adaptability is useful for military missions and also for civilian uses such as disaster response, scientific support, home land security or law enforcement. The engine in the aircraft has been provided by Textron System’s Lycoming Engines and is designed to adapt to the aircraft specifications by boosting its performance. The aircraft is capable of flying at high altitudes and incorporates laser for designation. The landing machinery and other operating systems are simple in usage and easily accessible. The aircraft’s modular design and the avionics architecture make it easy to reconfigure for different missions. The missions that it can undertake are synthetic aperture radar, wide-area surveillance, ground and dismount target indication and electronic warfare. It is also compatible with Triclops and all the equipment of the Shadow 200 aircraft support equipment. The aircraft is equipped with advanced electro-optical and infrared sensors, which are capable of providing images of high resolution.
Source: http://www.textron.com