U.S. Forces Purchase 179 Small UAVs

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Under the terms of a $390.4 million contract, the United States military has purchased 179 small UAVs. The purchased reconnaissance UAVs are to be shipped to the U.S. Marine Corps, the U.S. Navy, and foreign allied militaries including Canada, Poland, and Oman.

Out of these 179 UAVs purchased, 86 of them will be RQ-21A Blackjacks and 93 of them will be the ScanEagle UAV, both UAVs are developed by Boeing Insitu Inc.. 

The Blackjack UAV has a 16 foot wingspan and is eight feet long. The UAV is designed to be equipped with multisensor payloads, allowing for surveillance and reconnaissance.

The UAV weighs in at 81 pounds and can reach speeds up to 104 miles per hour. It can fly for as long as 24 hours, with a cruising speed of 63 miles per hour and a maximum altitude of 19,500 feet.

The UAV takes off via launcher and it lands using a net-based recovery system. This allows the UAV be operated from both land and sea.

The Blackjack’s payload sensors can also be customized, allowing the UAV to be fitted with a wide variety of different infrared cameras, communications, and sensors that can increase force’s situational awareness. The UAV can carry payloads that weigh up to 39 pounds. Militaryaerospace.com reports that the Blackjack’s standard sensors include a visible light imager, a mid-wave infrared imager, an infrared marker, a laser rangefinder, communications, and an automatic identification system.

On the other hand, the smaller ScanEagle UAV can provide forces with surveillance and reconnaissance in a much more cost effective manner than other surveillance methods. 

The ScanEagle can use gasoline, diesel, or kerosene as fuel for the UAV. It can be launched autonomously and doesn’t need a net to recover. Instead, it recovers by using its wing tip on a rope that is connected to a boom.

The ScanEagle has a 5.6 foot wingspan and is 5.1 feet long. Weighing in at over than half of the Blackjack, the ScanEagle weighs 48.5 pounds and is capable of carrying payloads of up to 7.5 pounds. Like the Blackjack, the UAV is capable of flying for 24 hours and can reach altitudes of 19,500 feet.

The standard payload the ScanEagle will carry consists of a visible-light imager and a medium wave infrared sensor, both sensors are integrated into the same device.

Work on the UAVs will be done mainly in Washington and is expected to be finished by June 2022.