Aerial Targets

Abstract

Full-scale Aerial Targets assure warfighters' weapon systems perform effectively against real-world enemy fighters and cruise missiles. Aerial Targets support adherence to Public Law Title 10, Section 2366, which requires major systems and munitions programs to conduct live fire survivability and lethality testing before full-rate production. Targets are used to validate operational missile/weapon system effectiveness and fighter operational flight program (OFP) updates. Targets are required for developmental/operational testing for all air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, and for the F-22A, F-35, F-18, F-16, F-15, and other aircraft. Funding supports simulator development and improvements on the QF-16 Full-scale Aerial Target, BQM-167A Subscale Aerial Target, and updates of Target Control Systems and specialized Target Payload Subsystems for requirements such as: missile scoring, electronic attack and infrared (IR) countermeasures, radar and IR signature augmentation, and chaff and flare dispensing systems. Enables analysis, development and prototyping of threat emulations/simulations, and presentation of evolving threat scenarios and target area environments to prepare for emerging weapons development activities. Development is required to evolve aerial targets and target control capabilities to meet current and future threats. Air Force is the Executive Agent for Full-scale Aerial Targets. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver Full-scale Aerial Targets, Subscale Aerial Targets, and companion Target Control Systems (TCS) weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605831F. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2021
• Source ID: 0305116F_7_3600_PB_2021
• Change Summary Explanation: The FY21 funding request was reduced by $5.042 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• Air Platforms
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Aerial Targets
• Air Force
• Aircrafts
• Command And Control
• Control Systems
• Cruise Missiles
• Electronic Countermeasures
• Munitions
• Product Development
• Production
• Radio Frequency
• Target Drones
• Test And Evaluation
• Weapon System Effectiveness
• Weapon Systems
• Weapons

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Sensor Fusion and Tracking Systems.

Technology Areas

• Microelectronics