Boeing to Convert Batch of F-16s to Unmanned Target Drones for USAF
Ami Rojkes Dombe
| 21/11/2017
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/f16.html
Military avionics experts at Boeing will convert several retired US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 jet fighters into manned and unmanned target drones under terms of an $11.2 million order announced last week.
Under the agreement, the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment will convert about 15 F-16 fighters into unmanned QF-16 full-scale aerial targets (FSATs). This order involves QF-16 full-scale aerial target lot 5B.
According to Military Aerospace, the US Air Force has used converted jet fighters as target drones since the 1960s. "Although some of these retired jet fighter target drones are destroyed during weapons tests, often the drones rely on onboard sensors to calculate the point of missile detonations to record 'kills' without destroying the target aircraft," the report reads.
https://www.lockheedmartin.com/us/products/f16.html
Military avionics experts at Boeing will convert several retired US Air Force Lockheed Martin F-16 jet fighters into manned and unmanned target drones under terms of an $11.2 million order announced last week.
Under the agreement, the Boeing Defense, Space & Security segment will convert about 15 F-16 fighters into unmanned QF-16 full-scale aerial targets (FSATs). This order involves QF-16 full-scale aerial target lot 5B.
According to Military Aerospace, the US Air Force has used converted jet fighters as target drones since the 1960s. "Although some of these retired jet fighter target drones are destroyed during weapons tests, often the drones rely on onboard sensors to calculate the point of missile detonations to record 'kills' without destroying the target aircraft," the report reads.
