The US Air Force has awarded a phase one contract to Boeing, for the initial engineering, manufacturing and development of QF-16 full-scale aerial targets to replace the QF-4 fleet.
Under the $69.7m contract, a Boeing-led team will convert retired F-16 aircraft into QF-16s for use as aerial targets for newly developed weapons and tactics.
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Boeing will equip the drones to evaluate how US fighters and weapons will operate against potential adversaries.
The drones will be flown either manned or unmanned within a controlled range, and used for testing.
Boeing will perform the QF-16 design and development work at St Louis Ground and flight testing and production at its facility in Cecil Field, Fla., near Jacksonville.
The QF-16 team also includes BAE Systems in Johnson City, NY.
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