Article Posted on : - May 21, 2010

The Shadow unmanned aerial vehicle.

STOCKHOLM (BNS): Sweden's defence company Saab will provide two Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems (TUAS) and related support service to the Swedish defence forces.

Saab has got an order worth 500 million Swedish kronor ($63.36 million) from the Swedish Defence Materiel Administration (FMV) to deliver two such aircraft along with ground stations, intelligence units and other related equipment.

The Swedish company has contracted the US-based AAI Corporation, which is manufacturing the Shadow UAVs, to supply the aircraft and associated services at a cost of $31.4 million, AAI said.

As per the contract awarded to Saab, it will be responsible for the entire UAV programme, including operating the system for over three years, providing training to personnel besides supplying the necessary equipment, technical maintenance and spare parts, Saab said in a statement.

The Shadow 200 is a combat-proven unmanned aerial vehicle used by the US Army and Marine Corps for reconnaissance, surveillance and targeting purposes.

The aircraft can see targets up to 125 kilometers away from the brigade tactical operations center, and recognize tactical vehicles up to 8,000 feet above the ground at more than 3.5 kilometers slant range, day or night.

A single Shadow system includes four aircraft; two one system ground control station (OSGCS) and ground data terminals; four one system remote video terminals (OSRVTs); a one system portable ground control station; and associated components and support equipment.