RQ-21 BLACKJACK

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. 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. 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.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2024
• Source ID: 3192_0305234N_7_1319_PB_2024

Tags

Fields of Study

• Environmental science

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