A modified Zvezda Kh-31 (AS-17 Krypton) anti-radar/anti-ship missile was successfully used as an aerial target on 13 August at the US Naval Air Warfare Center's missile test range at Point Mugu, California. The missile has been modified into the MA-31 supersonic target by a team from Russian manufacturer Zvezda, McDonnell Douglas (MDC) and the US Navy. For the test, it was dropped from a US Navy MDC QF-4 before descending to 1,000ft (300m). It then flew straight and level at speeds "approaching Mach 2.4" and performed a series of 10G lateral manoeuvres.
Source: Flight International