(L-R) Corporal Elton Golds and Lance Bombardier Richard Pleuger with a SHADOW 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial System at Multi National Base Tarin Kot. [Photo:Defence]
Minister for Defence Materiel
Jason Clare has announced the signing of a $7.2 million five-year contract to
provide Australian-based training for the operators and maintainers of the Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial System.
Training will begin in Queensland in April 2013. Troops will train
using Australia’s second Shadow 200 system which was delivered 12 months ahead
of schedule in April 2012.
“This contract means we will now be able to train our soldiers to
use the Shadow 200 right here in Australia,” Clare said.
The Shadow 200 system captures full motion video during both day
and night operations which can be sent back to a ground control station up to
125 kilometres away. It can recognise targets on the ground while operating at
an altitude of up to 8000 feet.
Each Shadow 200 System comprises five aircraft, ground control
stations, a launch and recovery element, and associated equipment, logistics
and training.
The two Shadow 200 systems were acquired through Joint Project 129 (Phase 2) at a total cost
of over $90 million.
The first Shadow 200 system began operations in Afghanistan
earlier this year, providing enhanced intelligence capability to the
International Security Assistance Force.
The US Army and Marines first used the system in Iraq and have
been using it operationally in Afghanistan. Other nations such as Sweden and
Italy are also procuring the Shadow 200 system.
The training will be delivered through AAI Corporation’s Australian-based subsidiary Aerosonde Pty Ltd.
Melbourne-based Aerosonde will initially provide three training
instructors, increasing to the full contracted requirement of six as Australian
instructors gain experience.