FORT SILL, Okla., - Members of the 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT) successfully launched and recovered an Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) at the Henry Post Army Airfield on Oct. 19.
The RQ-7 UAS, known as the Shadow, is operated by Company B, 45th Brigade Special Troops Battalion, 45th IBCT. The Shadow is the newest addition to the Oklahoma Army National Guard’s unmanned vehicle systems. Numerous Unmanned Aerial Platforms have proven themselves to be valuable assets in both Iraq and Afghanistan.
The Shadow is capable of operating in a wide variety of climates during anytime of the day or night. It has a variety of modern optical and communication systems to include; forward looking infrared, real time feedback and has the ability to function as an airborne communication relay system, all of which increase the safety and effectiveness of U.S. and allied Servicemembers.
“Due to the amount of training required to operate the Shadow, the number of operators is small, but the training allows a few Soldiers to support much larger groups in their missions,” said 1st Lt. Jeremy Spearing, commander of Company B.
The Shadow has a wingspan of more than fifteen feet and is scheduled to receive an upgrade to a twenty foot wingspan. The greater wingspan will increase the Shadow’s flight time by more than 20 percent.
The Shadow’s current laser pinpoint system is also scheduled to receive an upgrade to a laser designation system. The new system will give the operator the ability to designate enemy targets for both land and air operators. The new system will also have the ability to communicate with multiple weapons systems to support ground operations.
“The Shadow’s video systems allow operators to monitor ground activities and movements while flying as high as 15,000 feet making it impossible to see with the naked eye and almost completely undetectable,” said Spc. Danton A. Barnes, a UAS maintainer with Company B.
One of the biggest advantages of the Shadow is the speed with which it can be set-up and launched.
“It is faster to set up and deploy than other unmanned aerial systems making it a valuable tool in a combat environment,” said Spc. Barnes.
The 45th IBCT is scheduled to deploy to Afghanistan next year as part of Operation Enduring freedom. When they deploy, the 45th will have several RQ-7 Shadows with them.