QF-16
Abstract
Full-scale 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 survivability and lethality testing before full-rate production. The Aerial Targets program provides drones to satisfy "Live Fire/Lethality" developmental/operational test requirements. Target drones are used to validate operational missile/weapon system effectiveness and fighter operational flight program (OFP) updates. Target drones 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, etc., aircraft. The United States Air Force's (USAF) Air Superiority Modernization/Mission Area Plan has identified aerial targets as a capability shortfall; the QF-16 program will fulfill this requirement. Funding supports continued development of the follow-on full-scale aerial target (QF-16), development, improvements, 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. Electronic Attack (EA) pod upgrade provides new techniques and capabilities critical to QF-16s and subscales to realistically emulate foreign threat systems This program is in budget activity 7 - RDT&E 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. It provides aerial targets, target payloads, and target control systems in support of operational and developmental testing.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Project
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2013
- Source ID
- 675366_0305116F_7_3600_PB_2013
Related Documents
- Root: AERIAL TARGETS
- Child Accomplishment: QF-16 Development Program
- Child Accomplishment: F-16 Regeneration
- Child Accomplishment: Digital Radio Frequency Memory (DRFM)