Aerial Targets

Mission — Target Systems Development source

Full-scale Aerial Targets (FSAT), Subscale Aerial Targets (SSAT), and companion Target Control Systems (TCS) assure the effectiveness and currency of warfighter weapon systems to combat real-world enemy fighters and cruise missiles. Aerial targets support adherence to Public Law Title 10, Section 2366, which requires major systems and munitions programs to conduct live fire survivability and lethality testing before full rate production. Targets are used to validate operational missile/weapon system effectiveness and fighter Operational Flight Program (OFP) updates. Targets are required for developmental/operational testing for all surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles employed by the F-22A, F-35, F-18, F-16, F-15, among other aircraft. Funding 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. Enables analysis, development and prototyping of threat emulations/ simulations, and presentation of evolving threat scenarios and target area environments to prepare for emerging weapons development activities. Development is required to evolve aerial targets and target control capabilities to meet current and future threats. Air Force is the executive agent for full-scale aerial targets. The Aerial Targets Program leverages and implements tenets of Open, Agile, and Digital acquisition for any new subsystem hardware or software development. Integrates the system in weapon portfolio tradespace studies by conducting trade studies, system engineering, test activities, and protype and concept development, supporting system modeling and simulation. Builds and refines a mission modeling framework by incorporating higher-fidelity weapon system designs and updates to the threat landscape to conduct ongoing assessment of weapon system performance against the authoritative threat. Invests in analytical, information management, data management, digital environments, and networks directly supporting development and sustainment of this program's capabilities, while leveraging DoD and DAF enterprise IT solutions. Leverages Digital acquisition tenets of open, agile and digital. This may include providing funds to prime contractors; program office contract support; facility, security and IT upgrades; common component development with other weapon systems to reduce redundant costs. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program's funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY25 0.0 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY26 0.0 million is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. The FY2026 funding request is to modernize the TCS and close existing capability gaps. Modernization, will reduce future infrastructure costs by 67% and incorporate encryption requirements as mandated by DoD. This includes support for increasing simultaneous target C2, increased cybersecurity, extending the C2 range, mitigating target C2 communication frequency encroachment, and reprogramming for use on Government-only frequencies. Additionally, the funding supports the increase of operator / participant situational awareness while expanding payload combinations, enables autonomous terrain following capabilities, and supports the control and integration of future Aerial Targets.

Mission — Aerial Targets source

Full-scale Aerial Targets (FSAT), Subscale Aerial Targets (SSAT), and companion Target Control Systems (TCS) assure the effectiveness and currency of warfighter weapon systems to combat real-world enemy fighters and cruise missiles. Aerial targets support adherence to Public Law Title 10, Section 2366, which requires major systems and munitions programs to conduct live fire survivability and lethality testing before full rate production. Targets are used to validate operational missile/weapon system effectiveness and fighter Operational Flight Program (OFP) updates. Targets are required for developmental/operational testing for all surface-to-air and air-to-air missiles employed by the F-22A, F-35, F-18, F-16, F-15, among other aircraft. Funding 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. Enables analysis, development and prototyping of threat emulations/ simulations, and presentation of evolving threat scenarios and target area environments to prepare for emerging weapons development activities. Development is required to evolve aerial targets and target control capabilities to meet current and future threats. Air Force is the executive agent for full-scale aerial targets. The Aerial Targets Program leverages and implements tenets of Open, Agile, and Digital acquisition for any new subsystem hardware or software development. Integrates the system in weapon portfolio tradespace studies by conducting trade studies, system engineering, test activities, and protype and concept development, supporting system modeling and simulation. Builds and refines a mission modeling framework by incorporating higher-fidelity weapon system designs and updates to the threat landscape to conduct ongoing assessment of weapon system performance against the authoritative threat. Invests in analytical, information management, data management, digital environments, and networks directly supporting development and sustainment of this program's capabilities, while leveraging DoD and DAF enterprise IT solutions. Leverages Digital acquisition tenets of open, agile and digital. This may include providing funds to prime contractors; program office contract support; facility, security and IT upgrades; common component development with other weapon systems to reduce redundant costs. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program's funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY25 0.0 million was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, and in FY26 0.0 million is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. The FY2026 funding request is to modernize the TCS and close existing capability gaps. Modernization, will reduce future infrastructure costs by 67% and incorporate encryption requirements as mandated by DoD. This includes support for increasing simultaneous target C2, increased cybersecurity, extending the C2 range, mitigating target C2 communication frequency encroachment, and reprogramming for use on Government-only frequencies. Additionally, the funding supports the increase of operator / participant situational awareness while expanding payload combinations, enables autonomous terrain following capabilities, and supports the control and integration of future Aerial Targets. This program is in Budget Activity 7, Operational System Development because this budget activity includes development efforts to upgrade systems that have been fielded or have received approval for full rate production and anticipate production funding in the current or subsequent fiscal year.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (3)