Huntsville, AL., June 15, 2004 – CMI’s Shelter Division recently received a $17 Million follow on contract from AAI Corporation, a subsidiary of United Industrial Corporation. CMI builds the Shadow Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Ground Control Station (GCS). The GCS has an operational crew of two and is mounted on the back of a HMMWV. Shadow platoons are currently in use in IRAQ. CMI has delivered 40 Ground Control Shelters for the Shadow to date.

The vehicle system is designed to provide brigade commanders with accurate target acquisition, battle damage assessment and battle management capabilities. This system also saves 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.

Shadow platoons are operational in IRAQ. The basic Shadow platoon consists of four air vehicles, six High Mobility Multi-purpose Wheeled Vehicles (HMMWV), two Ground Control Stations (GCS), four Remote Video Terminals (RVTs) and antennas, one Portable Ground Control Station and Data Terminal. One HMMWV of the platoon transports the air vehicles and launcher trailer. Two more HMMWVs each transport one mounted GCS. Two HMMWVs are personnel and equipment transports.

The Shadow 200 Tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicle system operated by the soldiers of the 4th Infantry Division provides brigade-level commanders with real-time intelligence of what is happening on the ground - day or night, while being virtually undetectable.

The secret is its ability to fly at extremely high altitudes while using advanced imaging systems capable of seeing from great distances.

Over the past year, the planes have put in more than 5,800 hours in surveillance and reconnaissance missions in Iraq. Among 14 systems currently deployed in the United States and abroad, Shadows also have been used during surveillance exercises at the Mexican border and for drug interdiction programs.