Thailand officials receives RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial system from the US Navy

 

USN and RTN officials with RQ-21A Blackjack UAV during handovet ceremony. Photo c/o US INDOPACOM.

The Royal Thai Navy (RTN) officially received its first RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial system (UAS) from the US Navy on 24 May 2022.

A ceremony was held in Bangkok, with Commander US 7th Fleet Vice Admiral Karl Thomas presiding the hand-over.

The new RQ-21A Blackjack UAS will be joining the RTN’s 104 Air Squadron, Wing 1 of the Royal Thai Naval Air Division.

The RQ-21A Blackjack UAS was funded via the Indo-Pacific Maritime Security Initiative (MSI) program of the US Government to provide the Royal Thai Navy with improved maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.

Aside from maritime security missions, it can also be used for search and rescue operations, and drug and human trafficking interdiction by the RTN.

It will also advance the interoperability between the US and Royal Thai Navies.

The entire system consists of five RQ-21A Blackjack unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV), two ground stations, launch and recovery equipment, and in-residence training in the United Stats for the operators and maintenance crew.

The program also includes having technical advisers from the US to assist the Royal Thai Navy with the operations and maintenance of the system.

The RQ-21A Blackjack UAV has a range of 50 nautical miles, a speed of 60 nautical miles per hour, and an endurance of around 16 hours.




[1] US Indo-Pacific Command
[2] Naval Today
[3] The US Embassy & Consulate in Thailand