Featured:

Marine Blackjack UAS declared operational

By

U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Mark W. Freas, an unmanned aerial vehicle maintainer assigned to Marine Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Squadron 2, performs a preflight check on an RQ-21A Blackjack prior to a training flight at Marine Corps Outlying Field Atlantic Field on July 1, 2015. The training flight was conducted to ensure the safety and stability of the small unmanned aircraft system. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Koby I. Saunders/Released)

The Navy and Marine Corps RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aircraft system UAV has been declared operational.

Initial operational capability (IOC) means the first Marine Blackjack squadron is ready for deployment. Squadron VMU-2 will be assigned to support the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit. based in Cherry Point, North Carolina. The first shipboard deployment is slated for this summer, according to a Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) announcement.

The eight 8-foot-long Blackjack, which has an endurance of 10 to 12 hours, has been tested in Afghanistan. Each Blackjack system comprises five air vehicles UAVs, two ground control systems, and launch and recovery support equipment. 

About 

Michael Peck is a correspondent for Defense News and a columnist for the Center for European Policy Analysis. He holds an M.A. in political science from Rutgers University. Find him at theuncommondefense.com. His email is mikedefense1@gmail.com.