Crunch time for RQ-21A Blackjack
The US Navy and US Marine Corps (USMC) is preparing for a busy few months as its newest small UAS, the RQ-21A Blackjack, is approved for full-rate production and is set for its first shipboard deployment this summer.
In support of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU), the Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2 (VMU-2) has already taken delivery of RQ-21A systems and is expected to deploy in the next few months.
The USMC has already deployed the RQ-21A as an Early Operational Capability (EOC) to support overseas combat operations in 2014, achieving 121 flights and 995 flight hours.
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