Aircraft
AAI Is Upgrading Half of U.S. Army’s Shadow Fleet
AAI Textron is upgrading 68 of the U.S. Army’s 117 Shadow systems, which include four aircraft each, with an encrypted tactical common datalink. (Photo: AAI Textron)
AAI Textron is upgrading 68 of the U.S. Army’s 117 Shadow systems, which include four aircraft each, with an encrypted tactical common datalink. (Photo: AAI Textron)

AAI Textron Systems is upgrading more than half of the U.S. Army’s RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to incorporate a tactical common datalink (TCDL) supporting interoperability with other manned and unmanned aircraft. The company has a contract from the U.S. Marine Corps to arm the Shadow using the larger wing added through the Army modifications.