RQ-21A Small UAV Completes First Flight Ship-Based

RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Air System Completes First Flight Ship-Based

GULF OF MEXICO --- The Navy's RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS) completed icts first flight at sea Feb. 10 from the San Antonio-class amphibious dock transportation USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19).

The system completed three months of trial flights land-based at Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division in China Lake, Calif.., Before launching from a LPD-class ship.


The photograph shows the RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS) is Recovered with the flight apparatus cable recovery on the flight deck of the San Antonio-class amphibious dock transportation USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) after icts first flight at sea. Mesa Verde is Underway Conducting exercises in the Gulf of Mexico.