As IHS Jane’s reports, a Department of Defense news release states that AAI will “develop, verify, and validate noise signature reduction design improvements for the unmanned aerial vehicle engines Limited 1102 and Block 3 propulsion system engines. The modification also covers efforts required to update software and integrate the small mission computer into the RQ-7BV2.”
Work on this contract will be conducted in Hunt Valley, Maryland, where AAI is based. The estimated completion date is Sept. 20, 2015.
The new RQ-7BV2 Shadow UAV will come with an extended 6 m wing, a POP300D payload from Israel Aerospace Industries’ Tamam division, UEL’s 741-1102 engine, and a new communications relay system, IHS Jane’s said.
According to IHS Jane’s, the Army wants to upgrade the RQ-7B’s UEL AR741-1101 and AR741-1102 Wankel engine as a result of losing several UAVs in Afghanistan due to engine failure.
Read more: http://www.janes.com
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