RQ-7 Shadow
Encyclopedia : R : RQ : RQ7 : RQ-7 Shadow
The RQ-7 Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) is used by the United States Army to support and maneuver ground commanders. Launched from a rail, it is recovered with the aid of arresting gear similar to jets on an aircraft carrier. Its liquid nitrogen cooled gimbal and digitally stabilized EO/IR camera relays video in real time via a C-band LOS data link to the ground control station (GCS).
The "R" is the Department of Defense designation for reconnaissance; "Q" means unmanned aircraft system. The "7" refers to it being the seventh of a series of purpose-built unmanned reconnaissance aircraft systems.
General characteristics
- Primary Function: tactical reconnaissance for ground maneuver forces
- Contractor: AAI Corporation
- Power plant: UAV Engines 741
- Length: 3.4 m (11.2 ft)
- Height: 1 m
- Weight: 375 lb (154 kg) fueled and oiled
- Wingspan: 3.9 m (12.8 ft)
- Speed: normal operating range 60 to 110 knots (110 to 200 km/h)
- Range: 50 km (27 nautical miles) with a single GCS and up to 125 km with a pair of GCSs
- Maximum endurance: 4 hours (6 hours for RQ-7B)
- Ceiling: 15,000 ft (4,600 m) MSL
- Fuel capacity: 44 L of 87 octane gasoline
- Payload: POP-200/300 27 kg (60 lb)
Related content
External links
- [RQ-7 Shadow 200 Tactical UAV]
- [Shadow TUAV update]
- [UAV payloads]
- [Iran Protests U.S. Aerial Drones] (RQ-7 crashes in Iran), Washington Post, November 8, 2005
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