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Aviation
defence equipment technology - USAF First QF-16 target drone |
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Boeing delivered first production QF-16 full-scale aerial target to Tyndall Air Force Base | |||
The
USAF's Tyndall Air Force Aerial Target Division has a new target. Since
March 11, the division has access to the QF-16, an unmanned F-16 it will
use in exercises with its F-22 squadron. The QF-16s are based at the 96th
Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, but some are being sent to the 82nd
Aerial Targets Squadron, a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing,
headquartered at Eglin. |
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Tyndall AFB's QF-16 full-scale aerial target (Credit: USAF) |
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Tyndall eventually
will receive 13 QF-16s, which can be operated by a pilot or as a drone.
Tyndall still is using the QF-4 in training, but the QF-16 will replace the QF-4, an unmanned McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II, as the next-generation aerial target. While the F-4 is still in service by Middle Eastern air forces, such as Iran as recently as December, the F-16 provides a next-generation fighter jet. “It’s a more nimble aircraft,” Tyndall Public Affairs Officer Chris Bowyer-Meeder said. The Tyndall Aerial Target Division will, from time to time, shoot down its target jets, Bowyer-Meeder said. However, the planes also are equipped with sensors to register a hit in training. “Today
culminates five years of hard work and dedication beginning with a development
program, completing a rigorous test and evaluation phase that has ultimately
led to the first operational delivery of the QF-16,” said
Michele Hafers, director, test and training division at Eglin AFB. |
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Boeing delivered first production QF-16 full-scale aerial target to Tyndall Air Force Base
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