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QF-16 arrives for testing, advances 53rd WEG mission
November 20, 2012 (by
Ashley M. Wright) -
The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group marked an important milestone in continuing to prepare the warfighter for tomorrow's threats as the first QF-16 drone arrived for developmental testing November, 19.
"The work done prior to today and the test work that is forthcoming will enable the Air Force to transition from a 3rd generation, Vietnam-era aerial target performance to 4th generation threat replication and beyond," said Lt. Col. Lance Wilkins, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron commander.
The QF-16 is a supersonic reusable full-scale aerial target drone modified from an F-16 Fighting Falcon. At this time, the 53rd WEG uses QF-4s, made from 1960s F-4 Phantoms, to conduct their full-scale aerial target missions. The targets allow the Air Force and allied nations to have a realistic understanding of what they could face on the battlefield.
"In the imminent future, the QF-16 will take air-to-air testing and evaluation to the next level," Colonel Wilkins said. "It will make our American and Allied aircrew, aircraft and weapons more reliable and more lethal. It will serve a new generation of warriors."
Boeing Global Services and Support will conduct testing on the QF-16, according to a Boeing press release.
The QF-16s will undergo approximately six months of testing to validate their capabilities and ensure compatibility with the Gulf Range Drone Control System, explained group officials. Next, the aircraft will deploy to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. for approximately four more months of integrated testing. When all test milestones are complete, the aircraft will return permanently to the 53rd WEG to complete a transition period in order to achieve initial operational capability at Tyndall.
The first production QF-16 is scheduled to be delivered in 2014.
As the Air Force prepares 5th generation fighters such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the next battlespace, the group acts as a safety net to ensure our weapons capability is fully evaluated and understood prior to use in combat, said Col. James Vogel, 53rd WEG commander.
"It is a big day," Colonel Vogel said. "We are 100 percent behind the road to IOC for the QF-16."
The colonel added that the day was only possible with the work of many organizations such as all of Team Tyndall and contractors.
The 53rd WEG, which falls under the 53rd Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., provides the personnel and infrastructure to test and evaluate weapons utilized by the combat air forces of the United States and its allies. The group operates the only full-scale aerial drones in the Defense Department.
USAF QF-16C block 30 #85-1569 arrives at Tyndall on November 19th, 2012. The QF-16 will undergo developmental testing by Boeing and eventually become part of the 53rd WEG. [USAF photo by Chris Cokeing]
The QF-16 is a supersonic reusable full-scale aerial target drone modified from an F-16 Fighting Falcon. At this time, the 53rd WEG uses QF-4s, made from 1960s F-4 Phantoms, to conduct their full-scale aerial target missions. The targets allow the Air Force and allied nations to have a realistic understanding of what they could face on the battlefield.
"In the imminent future, the QF-16 will take air-to-air testing and evaluation to the next level," Colonel Wilkins said. "It will make our American and Allied aircrew, aircraft and weapons more reliable and more lethal. It will serve a new generation of warriors."
Boeing Global Services and Support will conduct testing on the QF-16, according to a Boeing press release.
The QF-16s will undergo approximately six months of testing to validate their capabilities and ensure compatibility with the Gulf Range Drone Control System, explained group officials. Next, the aircraft will deploy to Holloman Air Force Base, N.M. for approximately four more months of integrated testing. When all test milestones are complete, the aircraft will return permanently to the 53rd WEG to complete a transition period in order to achieve initial operational capability at Tyndall.
The first production QF-16 is scheduled to be delivered in 2014.
As the Air Force prepares 5th generation fighters such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Joint Strike Fighter for the next battlespace, the group acts as a safety net to ensure our weapons capability is fully evaluated and understood prior to use in combat, said Col. James Vogel, 53rd WEG commander.
"It is a big day," Colonel Vogel said. "We are 100 percent behind the road to IOC for the QF-16."
The colonel added that the day was only possible with the work of many organizations such as all of Team Tyndall and contractors.
The 53rd WEG, which falls under the 53rd Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., provides the personnel and infrastructure to test and evaluate weapons utilized by the combat air forces of the United States and its allies. The group operates the only full-scale aerial drones in the Defense Department.
Courtesy of 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Additional images:
USAF QF-16C block 30 #85-1569 arrives at Tyndall escorted by a QF-4 on November 19th, 2012. The QF-16 will undergo developmental testing by Boeing and eventually become part of the 53rd WEG. [USAF photo by Chris Cokeing]
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- First QF-16 arrives at Tyndall AFB (2012-11-19)
- Boeing completes first flight of QF-16 (2012-05-10)
- Boeing receives 1st F-16 for conversion to QF-16 Aerial Drone (2010-05-27)
- F-16 Fighting Falcon news archive
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