Upgrades to Shadow UAV in Evaluation Stage

By Stephanie Levy

5 November 2012

Soldiers at White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico are flying an upgraded version of the Shadow unmanned aircraft as part of a network integration evaluation designed to better assist service members in warfare. The soldier-led series of evaluations will help develop, evaluate, test and integrate the new Shadow to improve the Army's efficiency.



The new Shadow will include Soldier Radio Waveform software, which allows the command post and troops to see images projected by the UAV. The images must remain on the same frequency, which in turn may eliminate miscommunication. Currently, the Shadow uses a Single Channel Ground and Airborne Radio System, in which only the command post can view images from the UAV.



"The SRW will give the soldiers better situational awareness and further extend communication between the command team and troops on the ground without placing American lives in Danger," said Sgt. 1st Class Jaime Castaneda.