Program · United States · U.S. Navy
RQ-21A Blackjack
RQ-21A Blackjack · Fielded · U.S. Navy
Updated
FieldedU.S. Navy
Awarded
—
Across linked awards
Cost to the Government
| Measure | Variant | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Program totals · 1 | |||
| Joint annual RDT&E request$4.8M Navy plus $8.9M Marine Corps; annual research request, not lifetime R&D. | All | $13.7M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2018 Navy aviation procurement and R&D testimony U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee · figure FY2018 request |
| Unit costs · 1 | |||
| Historical procurement / five-aircraft systemSenate testimony requested $86.2M for four expeditionary systems containing 20 aircraft. System procurement scope includes more than the air vehicles. | All | $21.55MNominal $; stated contract or budget scope | FY2018 Navy aviation procurement and R&D testimony U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee · figure FY2018 request |
| Quantities · 2 | |||
| Systems deliveredFinal delivery completed the Marine Corps order of 21 systems; not 21 aircraft, all U.S. customers, or current inventory. | Marine Corps | 21U.S. only; stated source scope | Marine Corps final Blackjack system delivery, June 2019 NAVAIR · figure Jun 12, 2019 |
| U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count. | All | Not established | — |
| Operating costs · 1 | |||
| Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures. | All | Not established | — |
Program totals · 1
- Joint annual RDT&E request$4.8M Navy plus $8.9M Marine Corps; annual research request, not lifetime R&D.FY2018 Navy aviation procurement and R&D testimony U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee · figure FY2018 request$13.7M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
Unit costs · 1
- Historical procurement / five-aircraft systemSenate testimony requested $86.2M for four expeditionary systems containing 20 aircraft. System procurement scope includes more than the air vehicles.FY2018 Navy aviation procurement and R&D testimony U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee · figure FY2018 request$21.55MNominal $; stated contract or budget scope
Quantities · 2
- Systems deliveredFinal delivery completed the Marine Corps order of 21 systems; not 21 aircraft, all U.S. customers, or current inventory.Marine CorpsMarine Corps final Blackjack system delivery, June 2019 NAVAIR · figure Jun 12, 201921U.S. only; stated source scope
- U.S. inventoryA current U.S. inventory was not established. Annual procurement, cumulative deliveries and production capacity are not a stockpile count.Source not recordedNot established
Operating costs · 1
- Annual operations & supportA complete, system-specific annual operating and support cost was not established. Procurement, replacement rounds and contract support are different measures.Source not recordedNot established
Earlier observations · 2
Superseded estimates and prices, each in its original scope and dollar basis.
| Measure | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Historical procurement / five-aircraft systemSenate testimony requested $86.2M for four expeditionary systems containing 20 aircraft. System procurement scope includes more than the air vehicles. | $21.55MNominal $; stated contract or budget scope | FY2018 Navy aviation procurement and R&D testimony U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee · figure FY2018 request |
| Joint annual RDT&E request$4.8M Navy plus $8.9M Marine Corps; annual research request, not lifetime R&D. | $13.7M / yrNominal $; source budget basis | FY2018 Navy aviation procurement and R&D testimony U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee · figure FY2018 request |
- Historical procurement / five-aircraft systemSenate testimony requested $86.2M for four expeditionary systems containing 20 aircraft. System procurement scope includes more than the air vehicles.FY2018 Navy aviation procurement and R&D testimony U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee · figure FY2018 request$21.55MNominal $; stated contract or budget scope
- Joint annual RDT&E request$4.8M Navy plus $8.9M Marine Corps; annual research request, not lifetime R&D.FY2018 Navy aviation procurement and R&D testimony U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee · figure FY2018 request$13.7M / yrNominal $; source budget basis
Systems, aircraft and support are separate denominators
The FY2018 request includes five aircraft per expeditionary system and separate Navy support funding. Neither the system average nor total support funding is a bare-aircraft price.
FY2018 Navy aviation procurement and R&D testimony U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee
Historical deliveries predate divestment proposals
DoD described plans to retire RQ-21 in its FY2023 budget discussion. The 2019 Marine Corps delivery total is retained as history and is not a 2026 fleet count.
FY2023 budget divestment plans, April 2022 Department of Defense · +1 more
International buyers · 1
| Country | Qty | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| United StatesPurchases and program plans are not a current operational inventory. | Not verified | U.S. program customer | Marine Corps final Blackjack system delivery, June 2019 NAVAIR · figure Dated source snapshot |
Open research: Buyer records are selected examples, not a complete global order book. Current U.S. operational inventory was not established; dated purchases, deliveries and plans remain separate. Complete annual operating and support costs were not established.
What the government budgets and pays for this program, from budget justification books, appropriations, acquisition reports and contract announcements. Each figure states its dollar basis. What contractors were obligated is under Contracts.