Target Systems Development
Abstract
Full-scale aerial targets, subscale aerial targets, and companion Target Control Systems (TCS) assure the effectiveness and currency of warfighter weapon systems to combat real-world enemy fighters and cruise missiles. The BQM-167A Air Force Subscale Aerial Target (AFSAT) is a reusable jet-powered target aircraft measuring approximately 20 feet long with a mission to simulate threat aircraft for testing and evaluation of surface-to-air, ship-to-air, or air-to-air missiles. The target accomplishes this mission through the use of optional payloads including chaff and flare, electronic attack, and infrared devices. Funding supports continued improvement of launch phase performance and overall performance enhancement efforts. Funding supports development, improvements, and updates of target control systems and specialized target payload subsystems for requirements to include but not limited to missile scoring, electronic attack and infrared (IR) countermeasures, radar and IR signature augmentation, and chaff and flare dispensing systems. Electronic Attack (EA) pod upgrade provides new techniques and capabilities critical to subscales and full-scales to realistically emulate foreign threat systems in support of weapons testing. TCS provides a myriad of sub-systems that together delivers the capability to control and track mission aerial targets (full-scale and subscale) and to track a mix of other critical mission participants (to include relay platforms, shooters, and the missile system under test). In this role, TCS ensures an optimum integrated aerial target environment that enhances both weapon system assessments and companion aircrew skills, all the while assuring the full safety of mission participants throughout the conduct and fulfillment of T&E objectives. Funding supports continued improvement (modernization) of TCS capabilities to effectively meet the multi-service T&E demands of current and future warfighter weapon systems.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2018
- Source ID
- 675136_0305116F_7_3600_PB_2018
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