Textron Systems Progresses With RQ-7B Shadow V2 Upgrade | Aviation International News

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Textron Systems Progresses With RQ-7B Shadow V2 Upgrade

Nearly all of the 117 Shadow systems operated by the U.S. Army and Marine Corps are under contract for the V2 upgrade, Textron Systems says.

The RQ-7Bv2 Shadow is fitted with a high-bandwidth, encrypted tactical data link to stream real-time information. (Photo: U.S. Army)

May 1, 2016

Textron Systems has completed upgrades to about half of the U.S. Army’s RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aircraft systems to the V2 standard with a high-bandwidth, encrypted tactical common data link (TCDL) and other improvements. Nearly all of the 117 Army and Marine Corps’ Shadow systems—each one consisting of four aircraft and two ground stations—are under contract for the block upgrade.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background. The rest of this article continues for AIN Members with the full report, analysis and background.

Joby’s Autonomous Caravan Completes Coast-to-coast Trip

On-board safety pilot made no control inputs over 3,199 miles

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Joby’s autonomous Cessna Grand Caravan flies past Bodie Island Lighthouse

Bristow Triples Early-delivery Chaparral Reservations

Helicopter operator has reserved 15 of the hybrid-electric cargo drones

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Elroy Air’s hybrid-electric Chaparral cargo drone is parked beside a helicopter from Bristow

Beamed Power Could Keep Solar Aircraft Aloft in Winter

BAE Systems unit gets $21.2 million to test the idea with PHASA-35

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

PHASA-35

Textron, Merlin Unveil Uncrewed SkyCourier Concept

Design study swaps the cockpit for a nose cargo door

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Cessna SkyCourier UX Render

Lockheed Martin Will Build Four Vectis Drone Prototypes

The U.S. defense group displayed a UAS model at the Air & Space Forces Association conference

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Lockheed Martin Vectis UAS

Swarm Pitches Gamera for New U.S. Drone Requirements

U.S. Air Force is seeking a more affordable replacement for MQ-9A Reapers

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Swarm Aero Gamera drone

GA-ASI Aims Wildfire at Reaper Replacement

The new drone has a target price well below that of the current MQ-9A

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

GA-ASI Wildfire drone

Amprius Batteries Boost Energy for Long-endurance Drones

Second-generation SiCore battery cells reach 500 Wh/kg

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Rows of cylindrical battery cells on a production line