Military Embedded Systems

Department of Navy and Canada sign deal to sell first RQ-21A Blackjack system

News

August 30, 2016

Mariana Iriarte

Technology Editor

Military Embedded Systems

Photo by U.S. Marine Corps

NAVAL AIR SYSTEMS COMMAND, PATUXENT RIVER, Md. U.S. Department of the Navy (DoN) and Canadian Department of National Defense officials signed an agreement for the international sale of the RQ-21A Blackjack Unmanned Air System (UAS).

This is the first Foreign Military Sales case of the RQ-21A Blackjack UAS and we “look forward to helping them grow their small tactical UAS capability and ensure maximum interoperability with our assets, if desired,” says Col. Eldon Metzger, PMA-263 program manager.

One Blackjack system is scheduled to be delivered to the Canadian army in 2017 by Navy and Marine Corps Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft Systems Program Office (PMA-263) representatives, who manage the program.

The Insitu-built Blackjack system is composed of five air vehicles, two ground control stations, and launch and recovery equipment. The Blackjack is currently underway with USS San Antonio (LPD 17) for its maiden shipboard deployment.

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