In pictures, US RQ-21A UAV Launched for its first flight

NAVAL AIR STATION PATUXENT RIVER, Md. (June 12, 2013) An RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System is launched for it's first flight from the Webster Field Annex at Naval Air Station Patuxent River. (U.S. Navy photo by Steven Kays)

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The RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS) is recovered with the flight recovery apparatus cable on the flight deck of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) after its first flight at sea. Mesa Verde is underway conducting exercises in the Gulf of Mexico. (U.S. Navy photo)

Navy and Insitu personnel prepare to launch the RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Air System (STUAS) from the flight deck of the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Mesa Verde (LPD 19) for its first flight at sea in the Gulf of Mexico. (U.S. Navy photo)

Navy and Insitu personnel lift the RQ-21A Small Tacticall Unmanned Aircraft System(STUAS)onto launcher in prepartion for flight at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif., Sept. 10. (U.S. Navy Photo)

The RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Aerial System (STUAS) is based on the Integrator UAS design which in turn was derived from ScanEagle itself. The STUAS program reached a major milestone on July 28th when the RQ-21A performed its first flight at Insitu�s facilities in eastern Oregon. RQ-21A will represent a major improvement over ScanEagle due to its bigger payload. Its reconfigurable payload bay will be able to carry various sensor payloads in addition to its EO/IR camera.