UV Online 
Eurosatory 2010: Tactical UAV capability for Swedish ISAF effort
Swedish armed forces operating in Afghanistan as part of NATO’s International Security Assistance Force (ISAF) will be equipped with their first tactical UAV capability since deploying into theatre, according to AAI Corporation and Saab.
Speaking at the Eurosatory exhibition in Paris on 16 June, company officials said the first of two Shadow 200 UAV systems, procured on 17 May in a deal with AAI worth around SEK500 million, would be deployed with the Swedish Air Force within nine months.
The move means the first system, comprising four air operational vehicles and a spare, two ground control stations (GCS) and single portable GCS, will extend Sweden’s capability in theatre which currently comprises an undisclosed number of Skylark UAVs known as Falcon.
Currently, Swedish forces contribute 485 troops to ISAF's Regional Command North, based out in Mazar-e-Sharif. It also emerged that the second system, due to be delivered within 16 months, will remain in Sweden for training purposes.
Saab Business Director for UAS, Stefan Nygren, said the Shadow 200 systems would be utilised for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) operations and would be fitted with IAI subsidiary Tamam’s POP300 electro-optical payload. Comprising day and infrared cameras, POP300 is also equipped with a laser pointer and can provide a live video feed to 7kg remote video terminals as used by ground operators.
Within 16 months, the air force will also receive two Sensor Source Intelligence Cells, designed for four operators to retrieve data from a variety of air assets including the Shadow 200, Gripen and other aircraft.
Already operated by the US Army and Marine Corps in Afghanistan and Iraq, Shadow 200 includes an automatic launch and recovery capability via an arrest wire and has flown over 420,000 operational flight hours in theatre with a 95% availability rate, according to AAI’s Division Vice President for International UAS Programs. The Swedish Armed Forces’ contract with AAI and Saab also includes training and service support.
Referring to a prospective sale of Shadow 200s to the Australian Defence Force, AAI said it expected a letter of agreement to be signed later in the year with a contract following soon after.
Andrew White, Paris
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