Navy orders three RQ-21A Blackjack small tactical UAS for Navy and Marines surveillance

U.S. Navy officials are buying three new RQ-21A Blackjack small tactical unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) to provide surveillance capability for U.S. Marine Corps and Navy tactical commanders.

Officials of the Naval Air Systems Command at Patuxent River Naval Air Station, Md., announced a $41.1 million contract this week to Boeing Insitu Inc. in Bingen, Wash., for three low-rate-initial-production RQ-21 Blackjack UAS, to include air vehicles, ground control stations, launch and recovery equipment, and spare parts.

The Boeing Insitu RQ-21 is a twin-boom, single-engine, monoplane UAS for surveillance and reconnaissance.

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