US Air Force Awards Kratos Major Contract for 60 Unmanned Aerial Target Drone Systems.

On September 17, 2024, Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. announced that it had received a firm fixed-price order of $79,870,161.48 for the supply of 60 BQM-167A Air Force Subscale Aerial Target (AFSAT) aircraft, along with mission kits, flight consumables, and technical data. This order is part of a five-year contract.

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Kratos BQM-167A Unmanned Aerial Target Drone System(Picture source: Kratos)

The enhancements included under the Gas, Aero, Payload, Power (GAPP) program constitute the most significant upgrade to the BQM-167A product line to date. These improvements aim to increase the capabilities of the BQM-167A to better simulate advanced threats and support the USAF's weapon systems verification and training efforts. This contract represents the largest single purchase of BQM-167As by the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, located at Eglin AFB, Florida. Work related to this contract will be carried out at a Kratos manufacturing facility.

The BQM-167A is a remotely controlled, subscale target drone designed to provide a threat-representative target in the Air-to-Air Weapon System Evaluation Program and other USAF and Department of Defense air-to-air test and evaluation programs. This drone can carry the full range of current Air Force subscale target payloads, including scoring systems, infrared and radar enhancements, electronic attack pods, and a chaff/flare dispenser set.

Designed by Composite Engineering Inc., a subsidiary of Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, the BQM-167A is a subscale target drone that measures 20 feet in length with an 11-foot wingspan. With an empty weight of 690 pounds and a maximum load weight of 2,200 pounds, this drone, constructed from carbon fiber and epoxy-based materials, surpasses earlier models primarily made of aluminum in terms of performance and endurance. Capable of flying at speeds from 230 to 600 knots at sea level and reaching a maximum speed of 0.92 Mach, it can ascend from 50 feet above ground level to 50,000 feet mean sea level. Its maneuver capabilities include up to 9G turns and other aerial acrobatics. Launched from a rail system with rocket-assisted takeoff, the BQM-167A can be recovered by parachute, whether over land or water, and recovered units are repaired and reused. It is equipped to carry a complete range of current Air Force target payloads, including scoring systems, infrared and radar enhancements, electronic attack pods, and a chaff/flare dispenser set, making it highly effective for simulating advanced threats in weapon system evaluations.

The Gas, Aero, Payload, Power (GAPP) program represents a critical technological upgrade initiative for target drones like the BQM-167A. This program significantly enhances aerodynamic performance, payload capacity, energy efficiency, and propulsion systems. Focusing on four main areas—gas for optimized propulsion system management, aero for improved aerodynamic features, payload for increased capacity to carry various types of payloads such as scoring systems, radar, and infrared enhancements, and power for enhanced electrical supply and system endurance—GAPP ensures that target drones can more effectively and realistically simulate advanced aerial threats. These improvements allow the drones to better serve in weapon system testing and evaluation programs, providing a platform that precisely meets the demands of modern combat scenarios.