Lawmakers direct USMC to purchase interim Group 5 UAS capability

By Lee Hudson / June 8, 2018 at 4:04 PM
Senate lawmakers are calling for the Marine Corps to purchase a medium-altitude, long-endurance Group 5 unmanned aerial system because the lawmakers believe the RQ-21 Blackjack has repeatedly proved to be ineffective. The service uses the Blackjack system to provide intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance for its ground combat element. However, urgent universal need statements from operational commanders repeatedly note the RQ-21 has shortfalls in the areas of range, payload and survivability, according to the report accompanying the Senate Armed Services Committee's...

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