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RQ-21A
Blackjack/Integrator Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System |
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The
Integrator/RQ-21A Blackjack (military denomination) is a small tactical
unmanned aerial system designed and manufactured by Insitu, which is
part of Boeing. Insitu was awarded the Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial
System contract in 2010 to begin development of RQ-21A Blackjack. This
program of record for the United States Navy and United States Marine
Corps was the first organic and dedicated multi-intelligence Unmanned
Aircraft System (UAS) for USMC and USN tactical commanders. The RQ-21A
system is modular, flexible and multi-mission capable, providing roll-on,
roll-off transitions between land and maritime environments. RQ-21A
Blackjack's open architecture payload bays can be customized with imagers,
communication capabilities and other tools to deliver exceptional situational
awareness. The USMC received a system from Insitu in Integrator configuration
in January 2012 to execute early operational capability (EOC) for the
STUAS programme. The maiden flight of the same was performed in the
same month and the new system was deployed with USMC's unmanned aerial
vehicle squadron (VMU) 2 and 3. The RQ-21A Blackjack successfully performed
its first flight in July 2012. The land-based testing of the aircraft
system was concluded in December 2012. The United States Marine Corps
has ordered 32 systems each with five air vehicles each (100 systems
planned by FY2017). The United States Navy has ordered 25 systems each
with five air vehicles each. The Royal Netherlands Army ordered 5 systems
in 5 systems, which entered in service in 2014. An unidentified Middle
Eastern customer is likely to have purchased six Integrator systems.
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| Design | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The
drone is a bigger, heavier and more capable version of the Insitu ScanEagle
unmanned aircraft that has logged thousands of hours with the Marine
Corps and Navy in Iraq and Afghanistan. Unlike the ScanEagle, the Blackjack
makes use of a twin-boom configuration using a centralized fuselage
nacelle, strtaight wing assemblies and a rear-mounted engine. The RQ-21A
Blackjack is a modular and flexible solution for both land and maritime
operations, consisting of six payload spaces that can be customized
with cameras, communication capabilities and a broad array of other
payloads. The length and wing span of the RQ-21A Blackjack are 2.5 m
and 4.8 m respectively. The system has an empty structure weight of
34 kg, maximum takeoff weight of 61 kg, and maximum payload capacity
of 18 kg. |
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Mobility |
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The
RQ-21A unmanned aircraft system is powered by a 100-cc two-stroke heavy-fuel
reciprocating engine rated at 8hp. The engine integrates the electronic
fuel injection (EFI), and burns JP-5 and JP-8 fuels. The UAS can execute
mission for more than 13 hours. It has a ceiling of over 5,944 m and
a minimum operating range of 50nm. The maximum horizontal speed and
the cruise speeds are 90kt and 60kt respectively. |
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Payload
equipment |
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Insitu
and Boeing designed the RQ-21A to be a modular, flexible and multi-mission
capable solution for both land and maritime operations. The aircraft’s
six payload spaces can be customized with cameras, communication capabilities
and other advanced mission-specific technologies to suit your operational
needs. Integrator’s air-to-ground communications systems deliver
direct payload communication up to 50 nmi from a ground control station.
The system includes electromagnetic shielding to support customized
communications relay and radio frequency sensor payloads to meet your
mission needs. In the baseline configuration RQ-21A’s nose bay
houses the Alticam Vision™ imaging system, a stabilized turret
that eliminates in-flight vibrations and automatically tracks targets
of interest. The turret incorporates the aircraft’s baseline sensor
package, which features a laser rangefinder and IR marker and also includes.
RQ-21A Blackjack's turret also comprises an electro-optic imager for
high-resolution daytime imagery, allowing operators to focus upon and
maintain positive identity for objects of interest (1.1°–25°
optical field of view and 4x digital zoom); and a mid-wave infrared
camera with quality thermal imaging for nighttime and low-visibility
operations (2°–25° field of view and 4x digital zoom).
The configurable payload spaces of the Blackjack are interfaced with
a communications relay package, including Ethernet (TCP/IP) protocol
and data encryption device. In February 2013, Z Microsystems received
a contract from the US Naval Surface Warfare Center to provide intelligent
display series (IDS) for RQ-21A. The IDS features flat panel displays
that provide real-time enhanced video capabilities. |
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| Combat use | ||||||||||||||||||||||
The
RQ-21A Blackjack is adapted to perform several different missions: Search
and Rescue; Disaster Response; Force Protection; Combined Arms; Target
Following; Battle Damage Assessment; Pattern of Life; Border Security;
Asset Protection; Communications Relay; Networked Operations; Anti-Piracy;
etc. The roll-on, roll-off capability of the RQ-21A assists to perform
ship-to-objective manoeuvres. The lower logistics footprint ensures
deployment from small sites and ship decks. The UAS supports tactical
operations on land and at sea as it doesn't need a runway for landing.
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RQ-21A Blackjack Integrator unmanned aerial system technical data sheet specifications intelligence description information identification pictures photos images video Insitu Boeing United States American US USN USMC US Air Force US Navy aviation aerospac
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