Huntsville, AL – November 12, 2003. Chandler/May, Inc.’s Shelter Group recently broke ground on a new 25,000 square foot building production/integration facility to support the rapid growth in its Large Scale Integration division.

The building will contain engineering and technician office space, a computer integration lab and a large-scale integration facility for complete integration of the Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (TUAV) Ground Control Shelters. In the high-bay large-scale integration facility a full motion bridge crane with a 5,000 lb capacity will be installed to allow finished Ground Control Shelters to be mounted on government furnished HMMWVs for final installation and integration.

Shadow and Ground Control Shelter Overview

Launched from a hydraulic catapult, which muscles the small aircraft into flight, the aerial vehicle is already traveling 70knots when it leaves the ground. Control and monitoring of take-off, landing and all Shadow and surveillance operations are performed via the ground shelter.

The Ground Control Shelter is mounted on a HMMWV, and is fully self contained with generator, climate system, full electronic suite for aircraft and payload control and two operators. The Shadow ground station is built for AAI by ChandlerMay, Inc. in Huntsville, AL at its large scale integration facility. The Shelter is manned by two or three soldiers. The Mission planning operator programs the search pattern and controls the payload electro-

The Shadow benefits include saving lives by spotting ambushes and insurgents planting improvised explosive devices. The near real-time video imagery, day or night, fulfills its primary mission of reconnaissance and surveillance. In essence, Shadow systems shorten the distance between sensor and shooter, providing optical sensors. The Air vehicle operator controls the airframe. After takeoff, the aerial vehicle operator (also located in the Ground Control Shelter) then powers the Shadow to the correct altitude and destination, and monitors the flight instruments. The air vehicle operator can change the programmed flight path if the mission changes in flight. A mission commander communicates with air traffic control, coordinates with supporting units and supervises the UAV operators.

The Shelters utilize a wide range of CMI capabilities, including the latest in machine shop technology, cable fabrication and rugged systems packaging as well as the incorporation of high-end embedded VME Sun based workstations, video and communications products.

ChandlerMay, Inc. has reduced the Shelter build time from 6 month to 6 weeks. The Ground Control Shelter Case Study gives complete integration and detailed product information on this project, including the benefits of the Shadow TUAV system in combat and the processes involved in building the shelter.