Your new post is loading...
The US Navy has begun initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) of the new Insitu-built small unmanned aircraft system, RQ-21A Blackjack, at the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center in Twentynine Palms, California.
During the testing, the first low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot of the Blackjack, previously known as RQ-21A small tactical unmanned aircraft system (STUAS), will validated its effectiveness and suitability in realistic combat conditions.
Fitted with five air vehicles, two ground control systems and launch and recovery equipment, the Blackjack is a larger twin-tailed follow-on to the ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle.
Following completion of IOT&E for the next several months on Blackjack by Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 1, the government and Insitu team will transition the system to Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron (VMU) 2, located at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point, North Carolina for operational use.
The US Navy is scheduled to receive one system from the second LRIP lot in the spring.
L'US Navy et l'USMC ont signé avec Insitu un contrat de production du RQ-21A Blackjack en 2010.
Le Blackjack est un drone tactique plus lourd que le ScanEagle, mais il est mis en oeuvre avec le même système de lancement et de récupération. Quelques détails sur ce nouvel engin :
http://www.navaldrones.com/Integrator.html