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 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. Per Deputy Commandant, Combat, Development and Integration (CD&I) directed divestment of RQ-21A via letter dated February 22, 2021 and will complete divestiture in FY23. Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), Naval Special Warfare Branch (N951), directed the United States Navy (USN) divestment of RQ-21A via letter dated 23 January 2023. USN divestment will complete at the conclusion of FY25. The RQ-21A BLACKJACK will continue to correct safety related deficiencies to maintain current operations without loss of capability. Corrections of deficiencies may include Command and Control, Frequency Agile Communications Relay, Airborne Precision Engagement and Targeting, Digital Common Data Link, Launch and Recovery, and periodic refresh of the Electro-Optical/Infrared camera. 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.

Open PDF

Document Details

Document Type
R2 Budgetary Justification
Publication Date
Oct 01, 2024
Source ID
0305234N_7_1319_PB_2024
Change Summary Explanation
Schedule: Revised to reflect the program's latest procurement funding profile. FY 2024 funding request was reduced by $3.914M since the previous President's Budget submission to account for Marine Corps divestment and thus solely support NSW requirements.
Service Agency Name
Navy

Entities

Organizations

  • United States Navy

Tags

Communities of Interest

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

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

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

Readers

  • Defense Financial Management and Audit.
  • 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

Related Documents