Small (Level 0) Tactical UAS (STUASL0)

Abstract

The RQ-21A BLACKJACK (formerly known as The Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS)) is a United States Navy (USN) program that provides persistent maritime and land-based tactical Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance/Target Acquisition support for tactical level maneuver decisions and unit level force defense/force protection for Naval amphibious assault ships (multi-ship classes) and Navy and Marine land forces. This system will support Naval Missions such as building the Recognized Maritime Picture, Maritime Security Operations, Maritime Interdiction Operations, and provide support for Naval Units operating from sea/shore in Overseas Contingency Operations. The RQ-21A BLACKJACK United States Marine Corps program (PE 0305239M) began divesting in FY21 in support of Marine Corps Force Design 2030, Deputy Commandant, Combat, Development and Integration (CD&I) directed divestment of RQ-21A via letter dated February 22, 2021. The RQ-21A BLACKJACK will continue to upgrade the system to satisfy capability shortfalls, reliability, maintainability and safety issues. Upgraded capabilities may include Command and Control integration, Extended Range, Heavy Fuel Engine, Frequency Agile Communications Relay, Airborne Precision Engagement and Targeting, Digital Common Data Link, and periodic refresh of the Electro-Optical/Infrared camera. RQ-21A BLACKJACK will continue to expand its shipboard capability. This program is funded under OPERATIONAL SYSTEMS DEVELOPMENT because it includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full-rate production and anticipate funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

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Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2023
Source ID
0305234N_7_1319_PB_2023
Change Summary Explanation
Schedule: Revised to reflect the program's latest procurement funding profile. FY 2023 funding request was reduced by $0.044 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. --- FY 2023 funding increase reflects the fact that the FY 2022 President’s Budget request did not include out-year funding.
Service Agency Name
Navy

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms
  • C4I
  • Cyber
  • Ground and Sea Platforms
  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Acquisition
  • Aircrafts
  • Amphibious Assault Ships
  • Amphibious Operations
  • Command And Control
  • Contingency Operations (Military)
  • Contracts
  • Data Links
  • Force Protection
  • Maritime Security
  • Maritime Security Operations
  • Product Development
  • Software Development
  • Surveillance
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Unmanned Aerial Systems
  • Unmanned Aerial Vehicles

Fields of Study

  • Engineering

Readers

  • Maritime Combat Support and Expeditionary Logistics.
  • Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

  • Autonomy
  • Autonomy - UAVs
  • Fully Networked C3
  • Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control

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