3 August 2020: Boeing and 309th Aerospace Maintenance and Regeneration Group (AMARG) of the US Air Force have come together to create a second modification line for the conversion of F-16 A/C aircraft to unmanned QF-16. Boeing began converting retired F-16s into QF-16s in 2015 at the Cecil Field site in Jacksonville, Florida. The aircraft was flown last month to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, where it will be used autonomously in future weapons training operations.
“The delivery of this first AMARG modified QF-16 aerial target drone is a testimony of the cooperative, synergistic relationship we had hoped for when we created the private-public partnership with Boeing,” said Col. Jennifer Barnard, Commander of the 309th AMARG. “Though the installation of the drone conversion package is a relatively new venture for us, our hope is to leverage cost efficiencies and proficiencies benefiting both partners.”
Conversion of the F-16 A/C aircraft to the unmanned QF-16 configuration requires modification of the airframe and installation of major components. The QF-16 performs both autonomous manoeuvres through autopilot and controlled manoeuvres through ground stations.
“The partnership between Boeing and AMARG is crucial to expediting capability to the war fighters,” said Craig DeMeester, Boeing QF-16 program manager. “It’s an example of great teamwork, and completing this first jet is just the beginning as we have more deliveries planned this year and well into next year.”
More than 120 aircraft are on contract to be modified, with over 40 per cent delivered to date.
