The Shadow 200 is an unmanned reconnaissance plane that will allow troops to scout targets, call in artillery fire and track the enemy without placing paratroopers in danger.

The plane is flown and landed by remote control and resembles a high-speed radio-controlled plane. It's powered by, essentially, a souped-up lawn mower engine and sounds like a gasoline-powered weed trimmer.

The whole operating system -- which includes two planes -- costs about $36 million. The aircraft costs about $275,000.

The plane can be deployed anywhere using three C-130 cargo aircraft. It takes off and lands like a fighter on an aircraft carrier, shooting off a ramp and landing by catching one of four wires stretched across a runway.

The 82nd got to use the planes while in Iraq. They were operated by a unit from Fort Hood, Texas, that was attached to the 82nd. It gave the division the ability to track insurgent attackers and get intelligence about them before soldiers attempted to capture them.

"It makes the division much more lethal than it has been in the past," said Capt. Matt Gill, who worked with the planes in Iraq. "It doesn't allow the enemy to know we are coming.

"It can provide on-time, real-time target description. We can put intelligence that is only seven minutes old in the hands of a battalion commander."

Two platoons from the 313th Military Intelligence Battalion are training with the aircraft. Each platoon has two planes. By 2006, the division will have five platoons operating the reconnaissance planes.

Having the planes as part of the 82nd instead of attached temporarily will make a big difference, Gill said.

"We can support more customers and spread our coverage," he said.