thedrifter
08-07-08, 05:51 AM
Shadow Marines
August 7, 2008: The U.S. Marine Corps is forming a third UAV squadron (VMU-3), equipped with RQ-7B Shadow 200 aircraft. This UAV is most widely used by the U.S. Army, where each Shadow 200 UAV platoon has 22 troops and operates 3-4 UAVs, plus the ground control equipment. Typically, each combat brigade has one Shadow UAV platoon. Each marine UAV squadron has 8-12 Shadow 200s, and some smaller (40 pound) ScanEagle UAVs. The marines plan to form another UAV squadron in three years, at which time they expect to have a new UAV in service. The marines only recently replaced their two decade old Pioneer UAVs with the Shadow 200.
Each 350 pound Shadow 200 UAV costs $500,000, and can stay in the air 5.5 hours per sortie. A day camera and night vision camera is carried on each aircraft. Able to fly as high as 15,000 feet (or more), the Shadow can thus go into hostile territory and stay high enough (over 10,000 feet) to be safe from hostile rifle and machine-gun fire. The Shadow UAVs can carry 56 pounds of equipment., is eleven feet long and has a wingspan of 12.75 feet. The Shadow has a range of about 50 kilometers. The army has had great success with the Shadow 200, which is what caught the attention of the marines.
Ellie
August 7, 2008: The U.S. Marine Corps is forming a third UAV squadron (VMU-3), equipped with RQ-7B Shadow 200 aircraft. This UAV is most widely used by the U.S. Army, where each Shadow 200 UAV platoon has 22 troops and operates 3-4 UAVs, plus the ground control equipment. Typically, each combat brigade has one Shadow UAV platoon. Each marine UAV squadron has 8-12 Shadow 200s, and some smaller (40 pound) ScanEagle UAVs. The marines plan to form another UAV squadron in three years, at which time they expect to have a new UAV in service. The marines only recently replaced their two decade old Pioneer UAVs with the Shadow 200.
Each 350 pound Shadow 200 UAV costs $500,000, and can stay in the air 5.5 hours per sortie. A day camera and night vision camera is carried on each aircraft. Able to fly as high as 15,000 feet (or more), the Shadow can thus go into hostile territory and stay high enough (over 10,000 feet) to be safe from hostile rifle and machine-gun fire. The Shadow UAVs can carry 56 pounds of equipment., is eleven feet long and has a wingspan of 12.75 feet. The Shadow has a range of about 50 kilometers. The army has had great success with the Shadow 200, which is what caught the attention of the marines.
Ellie