The U.S. Air Force released a Request for Information, due Sept. 28, calling for a family of target drones that can represent the full range of airborne threats – from inexpensive hobby drones to advanced stealth fighters and large bombers. The solicitation stresses that the new drones must be cheap enough to be treated as attritable, with the Pentagon looking to commercial, dual‑use and non‑developmental solutions for cost‑effective scalability.
Proposals are expected to cover supersonic performance up to Mach 1.6 at 40,000 ft, high‑G maneuverability, low‑observable radar cross‑section, multi‑spectral infrared signatures, active RF emissions and integrated electronic‑attack capabilities for fighter‑type simulations. Separate variants should replicate the physical size, propulsion and radar returns of C‑130‑class aircraft, strategic bombers, AWACS platforms, as well as various UAV groups ranging from subsonic Group 3‑4 drones (Mach 0.5‑0.8, 3‑6 G) to swarm‑capable Group 1‑2 drones under 150 knots.
Current targets like the subscale BQM‑167A and converted QF‑16 fall short of mimicking fifth‑generation stealth or large‑aircraft profiles and are too costly for mass expendability. By inviting industry to supply affordable, realistic stand‑ins, the Air Force hopes to improve missile‑seeker testing and electronic‑warfare training, potentially reshaping its target‑drone fleet in the coming years.
