U.S. Navy Orders RQ-21A Blackjack, ScanEagle UAVs for $102M

The U.S. Navy has awarded a $102 million contract modification to acquire RQ-21A Blackjack and ScanEagle unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs), the Pentagon announced Tuesday.

The agreement calls for the delivery of 21 RQ-21A Blackjack and 47 ScanEagle air vehicles, along with payloads, turrets, support equipment, spares, tools, and training. The systems will support intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) missions for the Navy, Foreign Military Sales customers, and other international defense partnerships.

The RQ-21A Blackjack, developed by Insitu Inc., a Boeing subsidiary, is a small, uncrewed aircraft designed for ISR operations. It has an endurance of up to 16 hours, a payload capacity of 39 pounds, and can operate at altitudes of up to 20,000 feet. Equipped with electro-optical/infrared sensors, synthetic-aperture radar, and a laser designator, the UAV provides real-time intelligence for land and maritime missions. It can be launched from ships or land-based sites and is recovered using a "skyhook" system.

The ScanEagle UAV, also produced by Insitu, has been in service since 2004, including in Iraq. It features GPS navigation, infrared and electro-optical cameras, and an endurance of up to 20 hours. With a range of 50 nautical miles and a speed of 47–80 knots, ScanEagle supports battlefield reconnaissance, surveillance, and intelligence gathering.

Work under the contract is expected to be completed by June 2026.