Blackjack Production Nod On Hold

Completion of initial operational test and evaluation and the subsequent full-rate production decision for the U.S. Navy’s RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aircraft is on hold due to ship availability.

A tranche of sea-trails were set for this month but cut short as the USS New York, a San Antonio class amphibious dock ship, was called away for duty, says Mike Kurth, who oversees Boeing’s unmanned systems business.

The second IOT&E trail was set to ensure the system was suitable for shipboard operations. Only roughly a week more is needed for testing on the ship and full-rate production is now expected next year, Kurth said during a July 11 interview at the Royal International Air Tattoo here.

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