In the United States, work began on the conversion of F-16 fighter jets into unmanned targets

In the United States, work has begun on the conversion of F-16 Fighting Falcon fighters to fourth-generation QF-16 unmanned targets. The QF-16 F-16 Target Creation Program is related to the need to move from 3 generation air targets used by the United States Air Force during the Vietnam War to 4 generation air targets that can mimic modern aerial targets.

The first fighter officially converted into a full-scale QF-16 air target was the F-16C (serial number 85-1455).

Target QF-16 is a supersonic reusable full-scale air target, created on the basis of a modification of the F-16 "Fighting Falcon" fighter.

To date, the United States Air Force has used QF-4 air targets, based on the X-NUMX's X-NUMX F-4 fighter. These targets allowed the US Air Force and its allies to create a real air environment for training flight crews in a theater of operations.

In the near future, QF-16 targets will be used in testing air-to-air combat missions.

In the future, QF-16 targets are planned to be used to enhance the combat training of pilots of 5 generation fighters F-22 and F-35 to actions in future theaters of military operations.

In total it is planned to convert the F-210 fighter jets into 16 targets. The re-equipment will be carried out at the production facilities of the 309 aerospace maintenance and repair group AMRG (Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group), which will be able to deliver air targets to 22 annually.

All F-16 fighters, intended for conversion to aerial targets, had previously been withdrawn from the Air Force combat force and were stored from 3-x to 12-years. Initially, each fighter will be brought to flight condition for about 180 days, and then delivered to Cecil Field (Cecil Field) in Jacksonville, Fla., Where Boeing will install QF-16 airborne target equipment on it.

The contract for the transformation of the F-16 into a QF-16 target was awarded to Boeing in 2010, after which in November 2012 the first QF-16 target was delivered to the Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida and transferred to the 53rd group at the rate aviation weapons WEG (Weapons Evaluation Group) for testing.

The implementation of the entire F-16 conversion program into aerial targets is calculated up to the 2021 year.

Comments

[Baron Wrangell]

and it’s possible with the pilots and under our air defense! The guys have fun!

[fzr1000]

We sawed the Air Force, and amers competently "utilize" their planes. Su ... ebn, just su ... a.

[Refund_SSSR]

You can’t return what you’ve done, and EBN is already roasting in hell, and there he sits ... well, he was rare.

[AVV]

They are in Ukraine buying MIG 29 for the same purpose, since it’s good for them that a printing press is always at hand !!!

[Vitaly Anisimov]

Amers do not lose anything in vain ..

[Geisenberg]

Quote: MIKHAN

Amers do not lose anything in vain ..

All right. Nothing is missing go to the bottom with a full staffing.

[Predator-74]

Maybe for the USA it’s better not to re-equip, but to put White House workers in place of crews and bring them down. So the planes will be even more useful for the United States.

[Kuzkin Batyan]

I wonder how we are doing with target aircraft? And then nirazu on the network did not see such topics. And did our planes convert reusable targets?

[Vladimirets]

Quote: Kuzkin Batyan

And did our planes convert reusable targets?

And what is a reusable target in general? Sheathed with armor plates, so that the first time it does not go astray?

[viktorR]

Apparently they have it there that they miss out on messes and when there is not enough time to fly up to others and hit the mess, they just plant it. I think so (s)

[Kuzkin Batyan]

Likely that, in which case, such a target can be planted for the next time.

[Tersky]

Quote: Vladimirets

And what is a reusable target in general?

Eugene, ! This is when a lot of shots and not a single hit ...

[Vladimirets]

Quote: Tersky

This is when a lot of shots and not a single hit ...

What for then F-16? Kite just right.

[Bashkaus]

I wonder how we are doing with target aircraft? And then nirazu on the network did not see such topics. And did our planes convert reusable targets?
Ours keep parity somewhere, in that year they also shot down a phantom, and in places and F117 stealths did not disdain;)
And at the expense of multiple excuses, either the Americans are such "warriors" that they cannot shoot down, or our science has not yet reached the level of progress that would be collected back)))
And the electronic versions of the targets, in my opinion, are the same as a rubber woman or alcohol-free beer - "As if" it turns out, but intuitively, it is not something.

[Ascetic]

Quote: Bashkaus

I wonder how we are doing with target aircraft? And then nirazu on the network did not see such topics. And did our planes convert reusable targets?

AIR TARGET COMPLEX "DAN" M
Air target "Tribute" M provides imitation of cruise missiles and partial imitation of tactical aircraft.
Details here

[iOfficer]

Few. Let everyone redo :)

[Pelican]

They will also get the experience of unmanned F-16 control.

[Evgeniy46]

what Makar target reusable? Who will explain?

[Kuzkin Batyan]

When an airplane is working out a system against missiles. It’s dangerous to put a pilot there, and if the system works well, you will need to land the plane for the next time.

[Kuzkin Batyan]

When an airplane is working out a system against missiles. It’s dangerous to put a pilot there, and if the system works well, you will need to land the plane for the next time.

[aud13]

A flying target is also in my opinion not the best use. Actually a one-time effect.
And no one gave an interesting idea to convert old planes into cruise missiles?
Indeed, there is practically everything for this, and old planes (for example, MIG-21), which can develop a decent speed (more than 2 thousand km per hour) and go through an air defense system, while carrying a significant load of explosives, a long flight range (over 1,5, XNUMXtys.km) and locators on them and communication and guidance systems etc. In addition, if you remove unnecessary equipment in the last flight, you can increase the range and carrying capacity.
By the way, it could be exported. There are enough old Soviet-built aircraft in the world that just live their lives at airfields.
If it is technically possible to do it, then why not?

[Pelican]

And there was such a development! And it was with the Mig-21, but then the dashing 90s began ...

[HOUSES]

I agree. As cruise missiles, as well as false targets for opening the enemy’s air defense systems. This idea came to me back in 2008, when our planes shot gunfights in Ossetia.

[HOUSES]

I’ll develop a thought - perhaps the main purpose of the unmanned F-16 is precisely the identification of advanced air defense systems with the subsequent neutralization of their second-wave strike aircraft or other means. Already now we need to think about counteraction.

[Starover_Z]

Alas, yes, E-PRST!

[abrakadabre]

Quote: Baron Wrangell

and it’s possible with the pilots and under our air defense! The guys have fun!

This is of course unrealistic. They still need to remake the B-2 Spirit in the target. And call them VIT (very important target - similar to VIP)

[1c-inform-city]

In my opinion, they take them too soon. Overly hoping for f 35.

[ayyildiz]

The sad end for F-4,

[okosl]

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[escobar]

[i] Have you heard the breaking news?

Get out into the shadow of ISHAK.

[Russ69]

f-16, weak target, it is necessary to redo f-22. then it will be possible to work out air defense against stealth aircraft.

[Southerner]

The target was converted into a target. Everything is logical

[Cpa]

All this event, in my opinion, is not urgently needed. It’s just some who are scared that the order for F-35 will be cut, and therefore it is necessary to quickly get rid of the excess F-16 so that no one can win back in the light of the financial crisis.