The Beechcraft Shadow R1 is a highly adaptable tactical ISR aircraft offering better surveillance and intelligence capabilities. The Shadow R1, built on the Beechcraft King Air 350CER, delivers fast, tactical ISR support for global operations, with refined altitude, speed, and range for broader surveillance coverage. It is equipped with high-definition electro-optical and electronic sensors to gather data; any gathered data can either be analysed on board during a mission or transmitted via satellite. Being a non-combat aircraft, the Shadow does not have weapons, but it does have a defensive aids system. Because of its ISR duty, it may be required to fly through hostile airspace, and its defensive aids suite rapidly defeats incoming missiles.
The Shadow R1 is operated by 14 Squadron at RAF Waddington, part of the ISTAR group. Originally ordered under an Urgent Operational Requirement for Afghanistan, the Shadow was delivered to the RAF in 2009. The Shadow program transitioned to the MOD's core Equipment Programme in 2015. A 110 million contract with Raytheon UK expanded the fleet and upgraded it to R2 standard, incorporating the Leonardo-Thales Miysis DIRCM defensive aids system for 360-degree protection against missiles. The first upgraded R2 aircraft will be delivered in June 2023, and the out-of-service date is set at 2030.
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What is the Beechcraft Shadow R1?
The Beechcraft Shadow R1 is an adaptable intelligence, reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft. It is a modified Beechcraft King Air 350CER. The Shadow R1 is a highly adaptable tactical ISR aircraft with advanced sensors, defensive aids, and satellite communication. Because of this, it offers better surveillance and intelligence capabilities. It has a ceiling of 35,000 feet (10,668 meters). The plane has an under-fuselage camera turret, high-definition cameras, sensors, and detectors. The crew numbers 18: 4 pilots, 3 technicians, and a commander. The Shadow's high-definition electro-optical and electronic sensors work to help analysts create detailed intelligence reports, offering enhanced surveillance and intelligence capabilities.
The Shadow R1 aircraft of 14 Squadron, RAF Waddington, is part of the ISTAR group. The RAF Shadow R.1 has seen service in the Middle East and Afghanistan. The RAF fleet has six modified Beechcraft King Air 350CER Shadow R1 aircraft. The unit acquisition cost is $55 million for each plane. Shadow R1+ is an enhancement to a subset of the R1 fleet. Shadow R2 was made as an overhaul to enhance the existing five R1 aircraft. However, the R2 project was stopped by the UK government's defence team.
What are the specifications of the Beechcraft Shadow R1?
The specifications of the Beechcraft Shadow R1 are given in the table below.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Length | 13.34 m |
| Height | 4.57 m |
| Wingspan | 16.61 m |
| Wing area | 28.8 m |
The Beechcraft Shadow R1 is powered by two Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-42 turboprop engines, 850shp each. The plane has a maximum cruising speed of 294kts. The maximum altitude is 35,000ft (10,668m). The plane has a length of 43ft 9in (13.34m), a height of 14ft 7in (4.48m), and a wingspan of 57ft 11in (17.40m). The wing area is 310sqft (28.80m2).
The Shadow R1 has an unladen weight of 8,300 kg (about 18,298 pounds) and a payload of about 15,000 pounds (about 6,804 kg). It has 18 workers on board, and 4 workers who fly the plane. The range is about 2,078 miles (3,344 kilometers). The Beechcraft 350 type can hold about 3,011 litres of fuel (795 US gallons). It goes up about 0.4 miles per minute (0.64 km/min), or 10.9 m/s (35.8 ft/s).
What is the price for the Beechcraft Shadow R1?
The price for the Beechcraft Shadow R1 is not publicly accessible. The initial four Shadow Mk1 aircraft procurement had an undisclosed overall purchase expense. It was a fast-need war gear deal. The cost of surveillance equipment is not publicly available. The Beechcraft 350ER’s base list price is $7 to $8 million USD, but price changes based on configuration and year of purchase. One approximate price to buy a Shadow R1 is $132.5 million.
Expert behind this article
Jim Goodrich
Jim Goodrich is a pilot, aviation expert and founder of Tsunami Air.
