Up to $16M to Herley for USAF Target Drone Avionics

BQM-167A AFSAT Launch Herley Industries in Lancaster, PA received a multi-year option contract with a potential value of $16 million from prime contractor Composite Engineering in Sacramento, CA to supply Herley’s avionics suite for the BQM-167A Air Force Subscale Aerial Target (AFSAT). Products to be provided under the contract include command and control transponders, identification friend or foe (IFF) transponders, power distribution assemblies, electro-explosive devices, and integrated flight controllers. The BQM-167A is the USAF’s primary aerial target for training fighter pilots, and can also be used to test anti-aircraft defenses… In late 2001, the U.S. Air Force initiated the AFSAT program for a jet-powered target drone to replace the BQM-34A Firebee and MQM-107D/E Streaker targets. The AFSAT requirements were issued to the industry, and in July 2002, Composite Engineering’s Skeeter target, first flown in 2001, was selected for further development as the BQM-167A. The BQM-167A is powered by a ventrally mounted turbojet engine. It can be air or ground launched, and can carry radar enhancers, IR sources, countermeasures, scoring devices, and towed targets. The BQM-167A can reach a speed of about Mach 0.91, and fly at altitudes between 20 feet and 50,000 feet. The target drone is constructed mainly of […]