After receiving the latest version of the RQ-7BV2 Shadow UAS, the North Carolina National Guard’s Detachment 1, D Co. 236th Brigade Engineer Battalion has completed New Equipment Training (NET) near Fort Bragg, North Carolina, which took place from July 17 to August 25.

Without the limitation of time that they typically face on most drill weekends, where it takes most of a day to set up the airfield, the soldiers were able to use the NET to learn about the newest version of the UAS, which looks similar to the previous model, but has a number of upgrades including longer flight durations.

“The Shadow as a platform brings reconnaissance, surveillance and target acquisition, which gives us capabilities for our military intelligence company in support of the 30th Brigade,” says Chief Warrant Officer 2 Stephen Isaacs, the Det. 1 commander, via DVIDSHub.net.

“The V2 gives us a much larger range. It gives us a longer flight time, which also gives us more time to be on target.”

The new version of the Shadow UAS also meets the requirements of a new NATO regulation which requires all unmanned aircraft to have a “certain level of interoperability and communications security.”

​Describing the new version of the UAS as “absolutely better,” Sgt. Joseph Patton, a unit trainer and operator with Det. 1, explains one of the main improvements to the UAS.

“From flying unmanned aircraft down-range and in combat, there have been instances of other people being able to see our feed and our video and this is going to completely mitigate that,” Patton explains. “This will keep our capabilities to us.”

While the NET was ultimately successful, there were challenges along the way, as soldiers had to deal with hot temperatures and thunderstorms that prohibited them from flying, all while relearning a new system.

Yet and still, Patton says that the experience was extremely beneficial.

“There’s been growth not just in our flying capabilities but also in our operations,” Patton says.

“It’s always exciting to get that first bird up, every time. Whether it’s a drill weekend or annual training. There’s a lot of work getting it set up, but every time that bird leaves the rails for the first time, that means everything you just did was validated.”