What is the designation of the unmanned aerial vehicle used by Marine aviation for air reconnaissance?

• A. Predator
• B. Global Hawk
• C. Shadow/Scan Eagle
• D. Reaper

Answer: (C)

Marine aviation relies on compact, tactical ISR assets for air reconnaissance, not the larger, long-endurance platforms used by other services. The unmanned aerial vehicles most associated with this Marine role are the Shadow and the Scan Eagle. Shadow (the RQ-7) is a small, catapult- or air-launched reconnaissance platform used to provide real-time surveillance over the battlespace at lower altitudes. Scan Eagle is a lightweight, easily deployable system that can be launched from ships or ground vehicles to deliver quick ISR data in littoral environments. These two UAVs fit the Marine Corps’ need for immediate, on-scene reconnaissance, unlike Predator, Reaper, or Global Hawk, which are larger platforms operated by other services for broader, higher-altitude missions.