The US Navy and Marine Corps’ newest small unmanned aircraft system RQ-21A Blackjack began its initial operational test and evaluation (IOT&E) in early January at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms, California.

As part of IOT&E, this first low-rate initial production (LRIP) lot of the Blackjack, previously known as RQ-21A small tactical unmanned aircraft system (STUAS), will demonstrate the system’s effectiveness and suitability in realistic combat conditions.

The Insitu Inc.-built Blackjack is a larger twin-tailed follow-on to the ScanEagle unmanned air vehicle. The system contains five air vehicles, two ground control systems, and launch and recovery equipment.

At eight-feet long and with a wingspan of 16 feet, Blackjack provides intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance and communications relay to the warfighter on land and at sea. The air vehicle’s openarchitecture configuration can integrate new payloads quickly and can carry sensor payloads as heavy as 25 pounds. Standard payloads include day and night fullmotion video cameras, an infrared marker, a laser range finder, a communications relay package and automatic identification system receivers.