Tag Archives: RQ-21A Blackjack

Air

Ready for fleet

The U.S. Navy and Marine Corps’ RQ-21A Blackjack Unmanned Aircraft System (UAS) received the official green light for operation January 13, marking a major milestone for the program.

An RQ-21A Blackjack in flight during testing aboard USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) in 2015. The Marines will deploy with the unmanned air system for its first shipboard deployment in summer 2016 (U.S. Navy photo)
An RQ-21A Blackjack in flight during testing aboard USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19) in 2015. The Marines will deploy with the unmanned air system for its first shipboard deployment in summer 2016 (U.S. Navy photo)

Marine Corps Deputy Commandant for Aviation Lieutenant General Jon Davis, announced the program has achieved Initial Operational Capability (IOC), which confirms that the first Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) squadron is sufficiently manned, trained and ready to deploy with the RQ-21A system.

«We are ‘go for launch,’» said Colonel Eldon Metzger, program manager for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-263) whose team oversees the Blackjack program. «Achieving IOC designation means the fleet can now deploy using this critical piece of Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) architecture to enhance mission success».

Last month, the first system from Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) lot 3 was delivered to VMU-2 and will be in direct support of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), based in Cherry Point, North Carolina. The Marines will make their first shipboard deployment with this system in the summer.

«The Blackjack team has endured many long hours seeing this program to fruition and I am very proud to lead such a dedicated team of professionals», Metzger said.

A Blackjack system is comprised of five air vehicles, two ground control systems, and launch and recovery support equipment. At eight feet/2.5 m long and with a wingspan of 16 feet/4.8 m, the air vehicle’s open-architecture configuration is designed to seamlessly integrate sensor payloads, with an endurance of 10-12 hours.

The expeditionary nature of the Blackjack, which does not require a runway for launch and recovery, makes it possible to deploy a multi-intelligence-capable UAS with minimal footprint from ships.

Standard Payloads: day/night, full-motion video; electro-optical/infrared cameras; mid-wave infrared imager; infrared marker; laser rangefinder; communications relay; Automatic Identification System receivers for shipping traffic data
Standard Payloads: day/night, full-motion video; electro-optical/infrared cameras; mid-wave infrared imager; infrared marker; laser rangefinder; communications relay; Automatic Identification System receivers for shipping traffic data

 

SPECIFICATIONS

DIMENSIONS
Length 8.2 feet/2.5 m
Wingspan 16 feet/4.8 m
WEIGHTS
Empty structure weight 81 lbs/36 kg
Maximum Take-Off Weight (MTOW) 135 lbs/61 kg
Maximum payload weight 39 lbs/17 kg
PERFORMANCE
Endurance up to 16 hours
Ceiling >19,500 feet/5,944 m
Maximum horizontal speed 90+ knots/104 mph/167 km/h
Cruise speed 60 knots/69 mph/111 km/h
Engine 8 HP reciprocating engine with Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI); JP-5, JP-8
PAYLOAD INTEGRATION
Onboard power 350 W for payload
Onboard connectivity Ethernet (TCP/IP), data encryption
STANDARD PAYLOAD CONFIGURATION
Electro-optic imager
Mid-wave infrared imager
Laser rangefinder
IR marker
Communications relay and Automatic Identification System (AIS)
The RQ-21A completed its first shipboard flight in February 2013 from USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19)
The RQ-21A completed its first shipboard flight in February 2013 from USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19)
Navy

Little pigeons
can carry great messages

Insitu, Inc. (Bingen, Washington) is being awarded a $41,076,746 firm-fixed-price contract for the procurement of three low rate initial production RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aircraft systems. This award provides for the procurement of the air vehicles, ground control stations, launch and recovery equipment, initial spares, and system engineering and program management (Source: US Department of Defense).

RQ-21A Blackjack
RQ-21A Blackjack

Work will be performed in Bingen, Washington, and is expected to be completed in January 2016. Fiscal 2014 procurement funds (Marine Corps) in the amount of $38,309,942 and fiscal 2015 research and development funds (Marine Corps) in the amount of $2,766,804 will be obligated at the time of award, none of which will expire at the end of the current fiscal year.

 

Mission

The RQ-21A Blackjack, a larger twin-tailed follow-on to the ScanEagle, was selected in 2010 for procurement by the Navy and Marine Corps to fill the requirement for a Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System (STUAS). The system provides persistent maritime and land-based tactical Reconnaissance, Surveillance, and Target Acquisition (RSTA) data collection and dissemination capabilities to the warfighter. The air vehicle’s open-architecture configuration can integrate new payloads quickly and can carry sensor payloads as heavy as 25 pounds.

The RQ-21A completed its first shipboard flight in February 2013 from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19)
The RQ-21A completed its first shipboard flight in February 2013 from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19)

 

Description

RQ-21A will consist of five air vehicles, two ground control stations and multi-mission payloads that will provide intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and communications relay for up to 12 hours per day continuously with a short surge capability for 24 hours a day. Payloads include day/night full-motion video cameras, infrared marker, laser range finder, communications relay package and Automatic Identification System receivers. Ancillary equipment includes launch/recovery mechanisms, tactical communications equipment and spares.

RQ-21A will have a minimal operating radius of 50 nautical miles (92,6 km) and the air vehicle will be capable of airspeeds up to 80 knots (92 mph/148 km/h) with a service ceiling of 15,000 feet (4572 m) density altitude. The fully autonomous launch and recovery system will require minimal space for takeoff and recovery from an unimproved expeditionary/urban environment, as well as from the deck of U.S. Navy ships.

The Marine Corps requirement is 32 RQ-21A systems, and the Navy requirement is 25 RQ-21A systems for shipboard, special warfare and expeditionary missions. In July 2010, the Department of the Navy awarded a contract for the design, development, integration and test of RQ-21A. The Marine Corps exercised an early operational capability option and took delivery in late 2011 of two systems.

The RQ-21A completed its first shipboard flight in February 2013 from the amphibious transport dock ship USS Mesa Verde (LPD-19). Low-rate initial production was approved in May 2013 and accepted by the Marine Corps in January 2014. Initial operational test and evaluation began January 2014 with Initial Operational Capability slated for spring 2014. The RQ-21A will be deployed by Marine UAV (Unmanned Aerial Vehicle) squadrons.

Standard Payloads: day/night, full-motion video; electro-optical/infrared cameras; mid-wave infrared imager; infrared marker; laser rangefinder; communications relay; Automatic Identification System receivers for shipping traffic data
Standard Payloads: day/night, full-motion video; electro-optical/infrared cameras; mid-wave infrared imager; infrared marker; laser rangefinder; communications relay; Automatic Identification System receivers for shipping traffic data

 

Dimensions

Length:                                                 8.2 ft/2.5 m

Wingspan:                                          16 ft/4.8 m

 

Weights

Empty structure weight:           81 lb/36 kg

Max takeoff weight:                     135 lb/61 kg

Max payload weight:                   39 lb/17 kg

 

Performance

Endurance:                                        up to 16 hours

Ceiling:                                                 >19,500 ft/5,944 m

Max horizontal speed:                90+ knots/104 mph/167 km/h

Cruise speed:                                    60 knots/69 mph/111 km/h

Engine:                                 8 HP reciprocating engine with EFI; JP-5, JP-8

 

Payload Integration

Onboard power:                             350 W for payload

Onboard connectivity:               Ethernet (TCP/IP), data encryption

 

Standard Payload Configuration

Electro-optic imager

Mid-wave infrared imager

Laser rangefinder

IR marker

Communications relay and AIS (Automatic Identification System)

 

Technicians prepare an RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System for it's first flight from the Webster Field Annex at Naval Air Station Patuxent River
Technicians prepare an RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System for it’s first flight from the Webster Field Annex at Naval Air Station Patuxent River