Vipers as Targets

March 10, 2010

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

The Air Force has chosen Boeing to convert up to 126 retired F-16 fighters to unmanned full-scale aerial targets designated QF-16s. They will succeed the Air Force’s inventory of QF-4 targets that are used today to help develop weapons and tactics. Boeing is scheduled to start delivering QF-16s in 2014. On Monday, the company received a $69.7 million contract for the initial engineering, manufacturing, and development activities. Boeing will design and develop the QF-16 in St. Louis. Production and testing will occur at the company’s facility in Cecil Field, Fla., near Jacksonville. Boeing’s team includes BAE Systems, prime contractor for the QF-4s. (Boeing release) (Pentagon’s March 8 list of major contracts)

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

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