Small (Level 0) Tactical UAS (STUASL0)

The Small (Level 0) Tactical UAS (STUASL0) program, as outlined in Program Element (PE) 0305234N, is a United States Navy initiative focused on the research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) of small tactical unmanned aircraft systems. The primary goal of this program is to provide persistent maritime and land-based tactical intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and target acquisition (ISR/TA) capabilities to support tactical maneuver decisions and unit-level force protection for naval amphibious assault ships and Navy forces. The program is funded under the Operational Systems Development budget activity, which supports the continued development and upgrade of fielded systems.

RQ-21 BLACKJACK is the central project under the STUASL0 program element. Its objectives include supporting naval missions such as building the Recognized Maritime Picture, conducting Maritime Security Operations, and enabling Maritime Interdiction Operations. The RQ-21A BLACKJACK system is designed to operate from both sea and shore, providing critical ISR/TA support for overseas contingency operations. The program has also focused on maintaining current operational capabilities by correcting safety-related deficiencies, which include upgrades to command and control, communications relay, targeting systems, data links, launch and recovery mechanisms, and periodic refreshes of electro-optical/infrared cameras.

In recent years, the program has undergone significant changes due to directed divestment. The United States Marine Corps began divesting from the RQ-21A BLACKJACK in FY21 as part of the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 initiative. Similarly, the Office of the Chief of Naval Operations (OPNAV), Naval Special Warfare Branch (N951), directed the Navy's divestment from the system, which is scheduled to be completed by the end of FY25. As a result, there are no funding requests for the STUASL0 program beyond FY2024, and planned activities for FY2025 and subsequent years have been discontinued.

Product Development/Upgrade Efforts within the RQ-21 BLACKJACK project have focused on correcting deficiencies to ensure safe and effective operations. These upgrades have included enhancements to system reliability and capability. Efforts are aligned with maintaining operational readiness and addressing any identified safety or performance gaps in the fielded systems. No further product development funding is planned beyond FY2024 due to the divestment directive.

Engineering Support activities have provided technical expertise and software engineering necessary for system sustainment and upgrades. These tasks have included software updates and government engineering support provided by NAWC-WD (China Lake, CA) and other entities. These activities ensured that the RQ-21A BLACKJACK system remained compliant with evolving operational requirements and cybersecurity standards.

Test and Evaluation efforts have been integral to the program, with developmental and operational testing focused on payload integration, correction of deficiencies, safety, and cybersecurity. The goal was to validate system performance and ensure that upgrades met operational needs before full deployment or sustainment.

Management Services supported program oversight and contractor engineering support. These services included program management, contractor support, and travel necessary for effective execution of the RQ-21 BLACKJACK project. The STUASL0 program has transitioned from active development and sustainment to divestment, with final activities focused on maintaining safe operations and correcting deficiencies until the system is fully retired from Navy service.