Credit
Lance Cpl. Rhita Daniel · Public domain · Resized · Public domain · Source ↗ · Modified
FORCETALLY
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At a glance
Measured figures
Length
Single sourceRQ-21A · Length
Single sourceConfiguration
| Specification | Boeing Insitu RQ-21 Blackjack | Northrop Grumman X-47B |
|---|---|---|
| Crew | — | None aboard (semi-autonomous operation)[source] |
| Type | Unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance aerial vehicle[source] | Unmanned combat aerial vehicle Technology demonstrator[source] |
| National origin | United States[source] | United States[source] |
| Manufacturer | Insitu wholly owned subsidiary of Boeing Defense, Space & Security[source] | Northrop Grumman |
X-47B · Length
Single source38 ft 2 in (11.63 m)[source]
X-47B · Height
Single source10 ft 5 in (3.10 m)[source]
Empty; Empty weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; Max takeoff weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; RQ-21A · Max takeoff weight
Single source81 lb (37 kg)[source]
135 lb (61 kg)[source]
135 lb / 61 kg[source]
Empty; X-47B · zero fuel weight
Single sourceMaximum take-off; X-47B · Max takeoff weight
Single sourceCruise; Cruise speed
Single sourceCruise; RQ-21A · Cruise speed
Manufacturer claimMaximum; Maximum speed
Single source100 mph (170 km/h, 90 kn)[source]
63 mph (100 km/h, 55 kn)[source]
90+ knots / 46.3 m/s[source]
60 knots[source]
Cruise; X-47B · Mach 0.9+ / high subsonic
Single sourceMach 0.9+ / 690 mph (high subsonic)[source]
X-47B · Wing area
Single source953.6 sq ft (88.59 m 2 )[source]
Bars compare reported quantities only. A larger figure does not make a system better; configurations and test conditions differ.
| Status | In service[source] | Active[source] |
|---|
| Primary users | United States Marine Corps United States Navy Australian Army[source] | — |
|---|
| Number built | 109 systems with 5 air vehicles each (estimated through FY2017)[source] |
|---|
| Introduction date | April 2014[source] | — |
|---|
| First flight | 28 July 2012[source] | 4 February 2011[source] |
|---|
| Developed from | Boeing Insitu ScanEagle[source] | Northrop Grumman X-47A Pegasus[source] |
|---|
| Propellers | 2-bladed[source] | — |
|---|
| Primary user | — | United States Navy[source] |
|---|
| Powerplant | — | 1 × Pratt & Whitney F100-220U turbofan[source] |
|---|
62.1 ft (18.9 m) extended; 30.9 ft (9.4 m) folded[source]