A Boeing (NYSE: BA) subsidiary has received a $41.1 million contract to produce Blackjack small unmanned aircraft systems for the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, Intelligence Aerospace reported Monday.
John Keller writes the three RQ-21A Blackjack’s sensor payload contains a visible-light imager, mid-wave infrared imager, laser rangefinder, infrared marker, communications and automatic identification system.
Boeing Insitu Inc. will build the air vehicles, ground control stations, launch and recovery equipment and spare parts at its Bingen, Washington-based facility through January 2016, according to the report.
The Marine Corps’ marine expeditionary force, divisions and regiments will use the drones for intelligence,  surveillance and reconnaissance operations, the report says.
Keller writes the Navy will use the Blackjack to provide target acquisition data to Navy ships, Marine Corps land forces, Navy expeditionary combat command forces and Navy special warfare units.
