These photographs of the Shadow 200 drone being launched and recovered at night by U.S. Army paratroopers in Afghanistan are simply stunning

June 25, 2012 Drones

David Cenciotti

The following images show the Shadow 200 unmanned aerial vehicle launched and recovered at night at Forward Operating Base Warrior (in the Ghazni province) in Afghanistan by U.S. Army paratroopers with Company B, 1BSTB.

As already explained, the RQ-7 Shadow Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) is launched from a trailer-mounted pneumatic catapult, that launches the 400-pound UAV in fewer than 40 feet, and can be recovered with the aid of an arrestor hook similar to that of many combat planes.

Image credit: 1st Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division

Did you know small drones have an arrestor hook? Photos show U.S. Army RQ-7 Shadow ‘bot performing arrested landing in Afghanistan. (theaviationist.com)
Photo: RQ-7 Bravo drone launched at night from Kandahar (as it can’t fly much on hot days). (theaviationist.com)
Photo: Is this the first Taliban-made drone, ever? (theaviationist.com)

About David Cenciotti

David Cenciotti is a journalist based in Rome, Italy. He is the Founder and Editor of “The Aviationist”, one of the world’s most famous and read military aviation blogs. Since 1996, he has written for major worldwide magazines, including Air Forces Monthly, Combat Aircraft, and many others, covering aviation, defense, war, industry, intelligence, crime and cyberwar. He has reported from the U.S., Europe, Australia and Syria, and flown several combat planes with different air forces. He is a former 2nd Lt. of the Italian Air Force, a private pilot and a graduate in Computer Engineering. He has written five books and contributed to many more ones.