Aerial Targets

Aerial Targets led by the Air Force, aims to ensure the effectiveness and currency of warfighter weapon systems against real-world enemy fighters and cruise missiles. This program supports adherence to Public Law Title 10, Section 2366, which requires live fire survivability and lethality testing before full rate production. It involves the development and improvement of Full-scale Aerial Targets (FSAT), Subscale Aerial Targets (SSAT), and companion Target Control Systems (TCS) for various aircraft such as F-22A, F-35, F-18, F-16, and F-15. The funding also supports simulator development and improvements on the QF-16 FSAT, BQM-167A SSAT, and updates of Target Control Systems and specialized target payload subsystems for requirements such as missile scoring, electronic attack (EA), infrared (IR) countermeasures, radar/IR signature augmentation, and chaff and flare dispensing systems.

The program's specific objectives include evolving aerial targets and target control capabilities to meet current and future threats. It integrates Open, Agile, and Digital acquisition tenets for any new subsystem hardware or software development. The program also invests in analytical, information management, data management, digital environments, and networks directly supporting the development and sustainment of its capabilities while leveraging DoD and DAF enterprise IT solutions. Additionally, it includes necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The acquisition strategy involves sole source follow-on contracts for AFSAT and multiple contract awards to various contractors for NGAT as well as support from other government agencies.

Overall, the program aims to enhance the performance of aerial targets to realistically emulate current and emerging foreign threat systems in support of weapons testing. It also seeks to provide system enhancements to Advance Airborne Threat Target Control System (AATTCS) for command and control and tracking of aerial targets. Additionally, it conducts early systems engineering activities to identify and mitigate major risks associated with developing a new aerial target for live fire surface-to-air, ship-to-air, and air-to-air missile tests.