Pursuing a US Navy contract for an aerial target capable of high subsonic speed at low altitude, Composite Engineering (CEi) has achieved sustained supersonic flight with its surface-launched BQM-167X.
The vehicle is a development of the BQM-167A subsonic target in production for the US Air Force, but features a new fuselage with area ruling and embedded engine for reduced transonic drag.
Whereas the BQM-167A can exceed Mach 0.9 at 15,000ft (4,600m), the -167X has demonstrated "Mach 0.95 on the deck" and sustained supersonic speed "not using all its power", says Mike Fournier, executive vice-president in charge of research and development.
Sacramento, California-based CEi is completing five flights under a US Navy demonstration contract awarded in 2006. The navy is expected to issue a request for proposals for a subscale subsonic aerial target late this year, leading to a fly-off competition for five years of production. Northrop Grumman is expected to offer its improved BQM-74F version of the navy's current target.
Demonstrated BQM-167X performance includes greater than 40,000ft altitude, a useful endurance of more than 1h and sustained turns exceeding 6g, says Fournier.
The BQM-167X went from contract award to first flight in 12 months, he says, and uses 60-70% of the components from the -167A, including Microturbo TRI60-5+ turbojet and avionics supplied by Micro Systems. The target uses a similar rocket-assisted take-off, but with "improved predictability", he says.
The BQM-167 has a composite "unibody" structure "which requires very complex tooling, but means a lot less components", says Fournier. The main part of the fuselage is one piece, as is the empennage. CEi has entered negotiations for another five years of production for the USAF, he says.
Source: Flight International
