The U.S. Army has awarded Textron Systems a $97 million contract modification for the RQ-7B Shadow tactical unmanned aircraft system.

The Shadow 200 is used by the U.S. Army, Marine Corps, and additional armed forces around the world for intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance missions, in addition to assessment operations.

The aircraft is capable of seeing targets up to 77 miles away from the brigade tactical operations center, and can recognize tactical vehicles from up to 8,000 feet in the air. While in operation, the Shadow ground control station transmits images and telemetry data to the Joint Surveillance and Target Attack Radar System, also known as JSTARS, All Sources Analysis System, and Advanced Field Artillery Tactical Data System.

An entire Shadow 200 tactical unmanned aircraft system, which includes spares and supporting personnel and equipment, can be transported on three C-130 Hercules aircraft, or, for shorter missions, one C-130.

Work on the contract will be performed in Hunt Valley, Md., and is expected to be complete by October 31, 2018.