Unmanned Aerial Vehicles
Marines Bring Shadow Operations to an End
After a decade of often intensive operations with the Marines the RQ-7B Shadow has been retired in favor of the RQ-21A Blackjack
A VMU-3 crew launches an RQ-7B Shadow from Kaneohe Bay during the type's last assignment with the Marine Corps. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps)
A VMU-3 crew launches an RQ-7B Shadow from Kaneohe Bay during the type's last assignment with the Marine Corps. (Photo: U.S. Marine Corps)

The U.S. Marine Corps has undertaken its final mission with the Textron RQ-7B Shadow unmanned aircraft system (UAS) as the force transitions to the Insitu RQ-21A Blackjack. The final Shadow launch took place on July 29 from Marine Corps Air Station Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, home base of Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron Three (VMU-3). The mission was launched in support of the major multinational naval exercise RIMPAC (Rim of the Pacific).


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