Articles
AAI Corporation Wins $41 Million U.S. Army Contract For Tactical Unmanned Air Vehicle Systems
December 30, 1999
The first in a new generation of UAV systems, the AAI Shadow 200 TUAV will provide Army commanders with the capability to conduct reconnaissance, surveillance, and battlefield damage assessment.
The initial contract exceeds $41 million and calls for AAI to produce and provide support for four low-rate production TUAV systems, which will be used by the Army in operational test and evaluation. After that the Army will have options to purchase between six and 10 full-rate production systems.
Currently, the Army aims to have a total inventory of 44 TUAV systems. AAI expects to complete delivery of the first of four systems within 12 months. Contract value could exceed $300 million over the next 5 years.
AAI has 14 years of experience in UAV systems design, manufacturing, and deployment and has assembled a first-rate team for this program that includes Raytheon Systems Company, United Defense, Camber Corporation and D.P. Associates.
The TUAV system features the Shadow 200 air vehicle. First flown in 1992, the Shadow 200 has benefited from a continuous development and improvement program as well as from AAI's heritage of producing technically mature UAVs, including the Pioneer and Shadow family of UAV systems. AAI has delivered more than 230 UAVs that have been fielded by customers worldwide.
"We are delighted that the U.S. Army and the Defense Department have chosen the Shadow 200 TUAV team," noted Richard R. Erkeneff, president and chief executive officer of United Industrial. "AAI is the only U.S. company producing a significant number of tactical unmanned air vehicles, and we are confident we have assembled the right team to execute this important contract with great success."
The TUAV contract was awarded following an extensive selection process that included a three-week system capability demonstration at Fort Huachuca, Arizona. Each competitor was asked to complete a series of ground demonstrations and day and night flight profiles designed by the government.
AAI's Shadow 200 TUAV system is comprised of three air vehicles, three ground control stations (including one portable ground control system), a hydraulic launcher, and logistics support elements for systems deployment. It can be transported to the battlefield in two C-130 cargo aircraft. Each air vehicle weighs approximately 325 pounds fully loaded and measures only 13 feet between wing tips and 11 feet nose to tail.
AAI Corporation, headquartered in Hunt Valley, Maryland, has extensive experience in the design, development, and manufacturing of UAVs. Its predecessor tactical air vehicles have been deployed by U.S. forces in Kosovo, Bosnia, and Desert Shield/Desert Storm. They have logged more than 20,000 flight hours, most of those with operational military units.
For further information, visit the Shadow 200 web site at www.Shadow200.com
United Industrial Corporation is a high technology company focused on the design and production of defense, training, transportation, and energy systems. Its products include unmanned air vehicles, training and simulation systems, automated aircraft test and maintenance equipment, and ordnance systems. It also manufactures ground transportation components, combustion equipment for biomass and refuse fuels, and specialized firefighter training installations.
