The Blackwing grew out of a 2013 Joint Capabilities Technology Demonstration (JCTD) program dubbed, Advanced Weapons Enhanced by Submarine UAS against Mobile targets (AWESUM). It was developed to counter recent advancements in anti-ship ballistic missile and similar "anti-access, area denial (A2AD)" technologies by America's favorite frenemy, China. There's no word on specifically when the Blackwings will be deployed, but given China's recent aggressive posturing in the South China Sea -- not to mention Russia's arctic overtures and its revitalized sub fleet -- the Navy can't get these drones soon enough.