ARLINGTON, Va. \u2014 The Navy is planning a series of upgrades to the Boeing\u00a0Insitu-built RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial system, an acquisition official said.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re continuing to look at upgrades for the system,\u201d said Rear Adm. Brian Corey, program executive officer\u00a0\u2013 Unmanned and Strike Weapons, speaking Sept. 9 at the\u00a0Unmanned Systems\u00a0Defense,\u00a0Protection,\u00a0Security\u00a0virtual conference\u00a0sponsored by the Association for Unmanned Vehicle Systems International. \u201cSome of our future initiatives include beyond-line-of-sight capability; a vertical-takeoff-and-landing kit; a bandwidth-efficient common data link, and a portable ground-control station.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Blackjack, built by Boeing\u2019s\u00a0Insitu, is a twin-boom, single-engine, small tactical unmanned aerial vehicle that carries modular payloads mostly for surveillance. It is pneumatically launched and is recovered using a skyhook arrestment system. A single Blackjack system includes five UAVs, two ground control stations, various payloads and a set of launch and recovery systems.<\/p>\n
The fielding of the RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial system achieved full operational capability in 2019. All 21 systems for the Marine Corps and 10 for the Navy have been delivered to fleet and training units.<\/p>\n
The Blackjack now equips four Marine UAV squadrons plus a fleet replacement detachment. The Marine Corps deploys the Blackjack with its Marine expeditionary units onboard amphibious warfare ships. The 10 systems for the Navy have been delivered to Navy Special Warfare Command and made two deployments in 2019.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe RQ-21 has flown over 14,000 hours and has seen some of the highest readiness rates in all of naval aviation,\u201d Corey said.<\/p>\n