Poland is to acquire the Insitu Integrator small tactical unmanned aircraft system (STUAS), most likely to replace the smaller ScanEagle systems it already fields.
A Foreign Military Sale (FMS) notification for systems related to the Integrator was posted by the US Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) on 7 February.
According to the notification, an initial cost of USD900,000 covers supply of the STUAS’ GPS/Selective Availability Anti-Spoofing Module (SAASM) to Poland, as well as system training. No final contract value or overall system numbers were disclosed, and neither did the notification say when the STUASs might be delivered.
Known as the RQ-21A Blackjack by the US Marine Corps (USMC) that operates it, the Integrator is essentially a larger and more capable version of the ScanEagle. It is 2.2 m in length with a wingspan of 4.8 m and can cruise for 24 hours at 55 kt up to a service ceiling of 15,000 ft.
Currently in its Block 2 configuration, the STUAS is equipped in its baseline configuration with an electro-optical/infrared (EO/IR) camera coupled with mid- and long-range infrared imagers, an infrared marker, and a laser rangefinder. It is also equipped with an improved stabilised sensor turret which provides clearer image resolutions in day and night conditions.
As noted by Jane’s World Armies , the Polish Army fields tactical UASs only. These tactical UAVs include an Insitu ScanEagle Block D system made up of 10 air vehicles that was procured in 2005 for operational deployment with Polish troops in Iraq.
Source: Jane’s 360
Not in Iraq, in Afganistan..