General Dynamics F-16

QF-16 Target Program Launched



By: David Donald, AIN Defense Perspective >> March 2010 Defense

For years the QF-4 Phantom has been the standard target drone for U.S. Air Force missile shoots, represented here by a QF-4E flying in pilotless configuration. The more maneuverable QF-16 will become available beginning in 2014. (PHOTO CREDIT: U.S. Air Force)

For many years the U.S. Air Force has operated a fleet of surplus Phantom IIs as QF-4s in the full-scale aerial target role (FSAT). Under projected usage rates, that fleet will be consumed within the next few years. Now, the Air Force has taken the first step to providing a replacement. Not surprisingly, the type chosen is the Lockheed Martin F-16, the older variants of which are entering the boneyard in some numbers.

In March, Boeing was awarded a $69.7 million contract for the engineering, manufacturing and development phase for the QF-16 FSAT program. The contracting office is the 691st Armament Systems Squadron based at Eglin AFB, Fla. Boeing will undertake design and development work in St. Louis, but flight testing and production will take place at the former U.S. Navy base at Cecil Field, near Jacksonville.

Part of the Boeing QF-16 team is BAE Systems, which was prime contractor for the QF-4 FSAT program, of which around 240 conversions were undertaken. Initial plans for the QF-16 cover up to 126 modifications, with the first due for delivery in 2014. They will be capable of operations both with and without a pilot. Compared with the Phantom-based drones, the QF-16s will provide aerial targets whose maneuverability and performance are more representative of current combat aircraft, in turn providing a more realistic foe for air-to-air missile tests. QF-4s are currently flown by the 82nd ATRS from Tyndall AFB in Florida for trials over the Gulf of Mexico, and from Holloman AFB in New Mexico for operations over the White Sands missile range.

daniel o'leary escribió:

QF-16 Target Program Launched



By: David Donald, AIN Defense Perspective >> March 2010 Defense

For years the QF-4 Phantom has been the standard target drone for U.S. Air Force missile shoots, represented here by a QF-4E flying in pilotless configuration. The more maneuverable QF-16 will become available beginning in 2014. (PHOTO CREDIT: U.S. Air Force)

For many years the U.S. Air Force has operated a fleet of surplus Phantom IIs as QF-4s in the full-scale aerial target role (FSAT). Under projected usage rates, that fleet will be consumed within the next few years. Now, the Air Force has taken the first step to providing a replacement. Not surprisingly, the type chosen is the Lockheed Martin F-16, the older variants of which are entering the boneyard in some numbers.

In March, Boeing was awarded a $69.7 million contract for the engineering, manufacturing and development phase for the QF-16 FSAT program. The contracting office is the 691st Armament Systems Squadron based at Eglin AFB, Fla. Boeing will undertake design and development work in St. Louis, but flight testing and production will take place at the former U.S. Navy base at Cecil Field, near Jacksonville.

Part of the Boeing QF-16 team is BAE Systems, which was prime contractor for the QF-4 FSAT program, of which around 240 conversions were undertaken. Initial plans for the QF-16 cover up to 126 modifications, with the first due for delivery in 2014. They will be capable of operations both with and without a pilot. Compared with the Phantom-based drones, the QF-16s will provide aerial targets whose maneuverability and performance are more representative of current combat aircraft, in turn providing a more realistic foe for air-to-air missile tests. QF-4s are currently flown by the 82nd ATRS from Tyndall AFB in Florida for trials over the Gulf of Mexico, and from Holloman AFB in New Mexico for operations over the White Sands missile range.

Aqui les dejo esta nota para los amantes del F-16, por lo visto el viper va seguir sirviendo en la USAF aun despues de su retiro......

Faust escribió:te saltaste el QF-106

cierto...me se orvido, jajaja

THUD escribió:

nick7777 escribió:

Long wolf escribió:Sin duda alguna q estas en klo correcto, tuve la oportunidad de estar alli y de verdad que son experiencias unicas.

Bienvenido long wolf,pero...de qué hablas exactamente?.

Yo no se...pero este chamo o esta mas perdido que al Arca Perdida, o es un troll...dos mensajes: uno con una foto inexistente y el otro...sin ningun sentido aparente...

Long wolf escribió:

THUD escribió:

nick7777 escribió:
Bienvenido long wolf,pero...de qué hablas exactamente?.

Yo no se...pero este chamo o esta mas perdido que al Arca Perdida, o es un troll...dos mensajes: uno con una foto inexistente y el otro...sin ningun sentido aparente...

Gracias Nick7777, les pido disculpa por el error, solo fue q la pc presento ciertos inconvenientes al momento de escribir y aparte d q no conozco muy bien el sistema en el foro ocurrio lo q paso con el msj. Ivan a q t refieres con ser un TROLL...?, ah, Recuerda q el Arca la encontraron, lee un poco de historia.

La consiguio...pero Indiana Jones mi pana, y eso...fue una pelicula...asi que sigue perdida....

Ivan a q t refieres con ser un TROLL...?

Big Boss escribió:


Una pregunta finalmente van a ir los F-16 de nuevo a CRUZEX????

Armagedonio escribió:La tendencia actual es compensar la velocidad y la sustentabilidad del avión con una forma practica como la del F 22 Raptor americano , esta tendencia se comprueba en el diseño del nuevo PAK FA el problema con el F 16 es que posee un gran radio de viraje que le dificulta salir de su trayectoria recta .

En fin si a Chávez le gusta guardar la basura americana , yo no lo culpo, pero lo bueno cuesta caro y seria mejor olvidar romanticismos de la guerra fría y desechar esa chatarra de Carlos Andrés Peres.

Además gastar en cosas con futuro no nos quita lo pragmáticos.

Ch0pos escribió:Todos hemos sido troles alguna vez.

aquiles escribió:¿Estan hablando del Arca de la Alianza o del Arca de Noe?

¿Por cierto en el CRUSEX serna presentados los Rafale?