Printed from https://fiscalreceipts.com/program/2280/ — built September 26, 2026. Every figure is citation-backed; see the page online for per-number provenance.
Aerial Targets
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Budget figures
FY2026 award data is a partial year — USAspending reports awards on a rolling basis, and this corpus runs through 2026-09-04. why partial FY2026 data? →
Budget trajectory
| Fiscal year | Amount |
|---|---|
| FY24 | $174.7M |
| FY25 | $180.2M |
| FY26 | $182.7M |
All series figures: P-1 TOA · PB2026
Decade view
P-1/R-1 workbook TOA basis, shown compact in $B/$M (the workbook records USD thousands); each figure cites its own President's Budget edition
The vertical scale does not start at zero: the baseline sits just below this program’s smallest year, so a low point on this line is not a small amount. Read the shape for direction and the grid below for the figures.
● actuals (line) · ○ enacted · ◇ request — gaps are editions the program is absent from, never interpolated.
| Series | FY22 | FY23 | FY24 | FY25 | FY26 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Actuals | $141.4M | $182.1M | $174.7M | ||
| Enacted | – | $182.1M | $176.6M | $180.2M | |
| Request | – | – | $176.6M | $182.5M | $182.7M |
blank = series not published for this year; – = absent from that edition.
Asked vs spent: the PB2024 book requested $176.6M for FY2024; the PB2026 book reported $174.7M as actual total obligation authority — $1.86M below the request. 174.7 − 176.6 = -1.9 USD millions — the compact figures above are rounded for reading.
Program lineage
No predecessor/successor lineage was recorded for this program element — no FY-to-FY transfer into or out of this line was stated in the ingested J-books, and none was inferred from the program structure.
Description
Description — Aerial Targets
The Aerial Targets program provides threat representative aerial targets for test and evaluation (T&E) and fleet training events. Assets procured under this line item are used to simulate and replicate currently fielded subsonic and supersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) threats and Air-to-Air threats. The threat representative targets are used to test and evaluate Navy ship self-defense systems currently in development and are required for the successful completion of independent operational test and evaluation prior to fielding the systems to the fleet. Some variants are also used as fleet training assets to support fleet readiness. All assets procured by the Aerial Targets program are critical to evaluating combat and weapon system performance and improving fleet proficiency in counter-ASCM ship area, Air-to-Air, and self-defense missions. This program is composed of four primary components: (1) Subsonic Aerial Targets, (2) Supersonic Targets, (3) Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT), and (4) Auxiliary/Augmenting Systems. (1) Subsonic Aerial Targets The Subsonic Aerial Targets (SSAT) portfolio is composed of production and sustainment programs that consist of the BQM-177A, BQM-34S, BQM-167A and other various aerial target programs. The BQM-177A SSAT provides dynamic, high subsonic, sea-skimming, Anti -Ship Cruise Missile threat emulation for fleet training and for the testing of USN ship self-defensive weapon systems and other surface-to-air systems. Funding is used for the procurement of the BQM-177A and to procure associated hardware and mission kits, avionics upgrade kits, modifications, Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs) and software upgrades as required. In FY 2020, BQM-177A procurement transitioned from Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP) to Full Rate Production (FRP) with a Navy acquisition objective of 675 targets. Full Operational Capability (FOC) was declared in February 2022. The BQM-34S is a jet powered, high subsonic speed aerial target, capable of accommodating high performance payloads for threat emulation. The increased size, weight, and power (SWaP) of the BQM-34S fulfills the rising demand to test new weapon systems against increasingly complex payloads designed to emulate airborne threat radars and jammers. Funding efforts for the BQM-34S are for continued utilization of current inventories and/or additional production as required to support unique radar emulator, electronic attack and electronic protection payload presentations. The BQM-167A is subscale target slightly larger than the BQM-177A and is operated by the US Air Force. It is a jet powered, high subsonic that emulates threat aircraft and capable of emulating threat missiles. The BQM-167A is used by operational USN squadrons that participate in Navy Weapon System Evaluation Program (NWSEP) at Tyndall Air Force Base, FL. NWSEP is the traditional mechanism for USN squadrons to execute air-to-air live fire events provided by their Non-Combat Expenditure Allocation (NCEA) to support Training and Readiness (T&R) requirements as part of the Optimized Fleet Readiness Plan (OFRP) prior to deployment. NWSEP also satisfies Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) testing for missile systems in production and sustainment. These SSAT assets are recoverable and reused dependent on the objectives of each event. Funding may also be used to procure other subsonic targets in support of unique and emerging threat simulations. (2) Supersonic Targets The Supersonic targets acquisition program develops, modifies, and procures supersonic targets and boosters to replicate supersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) threats. This includes production of the non-recoverable GQM-163A Supersonic Sea Skimming Target (SSST) that is capable of speeds in excess of Mach 2.5 and cruise altitudes as low as 13 feet for the sea skimming regime and a climb to 52,000 feet for a high dive profile and capable of single-plane acceleration maneuvers up to 12g. The GQM-163A meets threat surrogate requirements for critical Test & Evaluation requirements of USN ship self-defense systems along with meeting fleet training Live Fire With a Purpose pre-deployment requirements. The AQM-88 Supersonic Air Launch Target (SALT) modification effort converts AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) into inert targets for fleet training, to simulate supersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) threats. Funding is also used for Engineering Change Proposals, modifications, and software upgrades for current and follow-on supersonic targets, to help Supersonic targets keep pace with emerging threats. (3) Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) The QF-16 FSAT is an United States Air Force (USAF) led program providing 4th Generation full-scale threat representative targets. The QF-16 FSAT is a converted F-16 aircraft that provides programs with a supersonic, high altitude and remote-controlled aerial target. This target has full command and control capability through normal flight envelopes. The QF-16 target presentations support aircraft and weapons system program testing and development to include the Joint Strike Fighter, AIM-9X Sidewinder Missile, AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile (AMRAAM) and Standard Missile-6. The USAF and USN are looking into alternative courses of action for the next generation of full-scale targets. (4) Target Augmentation and Auxiliary Systems (TA/AS) The Target Augmenting and Auxiliary Systems includes various procurements of target ground control systems required to safely operate all aerial targets and threat simulator(s) payloads that replicate electronic attack and active emitters found on current threat missiles. The Target Mission Support Systems (TMSS) program provides target control and scoring, location, and navigation of targets for fleet training and weapons systems test and evaluation. The Target Threat Simulation Program (TTSP) systems, installed on subsonic or supersonic targets as required, replicate various threats dependent upon the objectives of the test and evaluation event(s). When the target is destroyed, these assets are consumed and require replacement. As requirements to establish readiness capability increase, it is critical to maintain sufficient inventory of the Augmenting and Auxiliary Systems. Avionics equipment, common to all aerial targets, are also procured under Target Augmentation and Auxiliary Systems.
Justification
Justification — Aerial Targets
Subsonic Aerial Targets FY 2026 funding supports the procurement of 65 BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Targets (SSATs) to support forecasted test and evaluation and Fleet Live Fire with a Purpose training requirements, as well as associated kits, equipment, and support. In addition, two (2) BQM-167A will be procured to include associated hardware, modifications, and associated production support. Funds also support continued procurement/installation of kits for modification to the BQM-177A and BQM-34S targets and other subsonic target hardware. Kits can include, but are not limited to, avionics upgrades and actuator obsolescence. Supersonic Targets FY 2026 funding supports the procurement of 10 GQM-163A Supersonic Sea Skimming Targets, boosters, target modifications, as well as associated kits, equipment, and support. FY2025 funding is being held to be combined with FY2026 funding to achieve better economies of scale between both years. Similar strategy of cross fiscal year funding was employed with FRP 16 (FY2022/2023). Program will leverage funds to offset higher unit cost for GQM-163 boosters, MK70 PUSH booster integration and fund modernization of tooling in the industrial base. Procurement includes funds for GQM-163A targets for the Commander, SIXTH Fleet, Formidable Shield / Maritime Theater Missile Defense Forum at Sea Demonstration in support of advancing U.S. and NATO Integrated Air and Missile Defense maritime force interoperability and readiness. Additionally, funding supports the AQM-88 Supersonic Air Launch Target (SALT) modification which converts AGM-88 High Speed Anti-Radiation Missile (HARM) into inert targets for Fleet Live Fire with a Purpose exercises, to simulate supersonic Anti-Ship Cruise Missile (ASCM) threats. Increases in cost associated with Supersonic Hardware Procurements / Modifications in FY2025 and FY 2026 are due to the qualification and integration of the MK70 booster. Specifically, the program is qualifying new production MK70 boosters using salvaged MK12 booster components. Full Scale Aerial Targets (FSAT) FY 2025 and FY 2026 funding was moved to the sustainment appropriation to support delivered FSAT targets. The USAF, as the lead service for the FSAT, is evaluating options for the next generation FSAT. Target Augmentation and Auxiliary Systems (TA/AS) FY 2026 funding is required for Target Augmenting and Auxiliary Systems to continue production of various target command and control systems, scoring equipment, location, identification, and navigation equipment required to safely operate all aerial targets. The targets require production of various threat simulator(s) payloads that provide affordable high fidelity simulation environments of foreign threat electronic attack and threat radar emissions. Target threat simulation requires various electronic countermeasures equipment and active emitter augmentation equipment. OOC: FY 2024 includes $6,630K in OOC Actuals. FY 2025 includes $6,233K for the OOC Budget Enacted. FY 2024 includes $6,630 thousand in OOC execution. FY 2025 includes $6,233 thousand in OOC Enactment. FY 2026 includes $6,898 thousand for the OOC budget Estimate.
Budget line items(workbook-cited)
P-1/R-1 workbook Total Obligation Authority basis (USD thousands) · PB2026.
Exhibit P-1
| Account | Org | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Weapons Procurement, Navy | N | FY24 Actuals | $174.7M |
| Weapons Procurement, Navy | N | FY25 Enacted | $180.2M |
| Weapons Procurement, Navy | N | FY26 Disc. Request | $182.7M |
| Weapons Procurement, Navy | N | FY26 Total | $182.7M |
Budget Details(R-2/P-40 facts)
J-book detail basis (R-2/P-40, USD millions) · PB2026 — a different accounting basis from the P-1/R-1 workbook TOA above; where the two disagree, the reconciliation strip under Budget figures shows both.
Wider than this screen — swipe the table sideways for the remaining fiscal-year columns.
| Project | All Prior Years | FY24 Actuals | FY25 Total | FY26 Base | FY26 Request |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Program Element | $4.70B | $174.7M | $180.2M | $182.7M | $182.7M |
Follow the dollar
Appropriation → program element → top high-confidence awards → recipient families → congressional districts.
Follow-the-dollar covers 312 of 1,938 programs — only high-confidence budget→award links are shown. why coverage is partial? →
The diagram illustrates the cited table below — amounts shown in the diagram are transaction sums per award (no citation chips); the per-district obligations in the table cite USAspending queries.
Related awards
Award linkage is shown for 32 of 200 profiled companies — high- and medium-confidence USAspending matches, each row labeled; medium is the weaker evidence. why partial award coverage? →
| Recipient | PIID | Confidence |
|---|---|---|
| NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | N0001921C0005 | high |
| NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | N0001922D0006 | high |
| NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | N0001923F0387 | high |
| NORTHROP GRUMMAN SYSTEMS CORPORATION | N0001925F0079 | high |
| ORBITAL SCIENCES LLC | N0001915C0009 | high |
| ORBITAL SCIENCES LLC | N6893615D0005 | high |
Contractor concentration
No concentration index is published for this line. This line's high-confidence links do not clear the floor for a published concentration index — at least 3 awards across 2 contractor families holding positive obligations, with positive net linked dollars. An index below that floor is a fact about the sample, not about the market. Whatever further links this line carries are medium-confidence, and what each medium evidence path does and does not establish is set out in the methodology. Both bases are in the downloadable warehouse.
Lobbying mentions
No Senate LDA lobbying filing in the tracked data mentions this program element by code or alias.
Oversight
Department-level designation (not specific to this program)
GAO lists 5 high-risk areas for DOD as a whole. That designation covers the department, not Aerial Targets. No program-specific GAO finding for this line is in the ingested data. See the DOD oversight record.
Program dossier
No research dossier for this program — dossiers cover 50 of 1,938 programs, the largest fully J-book-detailed lines by FY2026 requested dollars. why no dossier here? →
Primary sources
Open any budget figure for its exact receipt. Verified line items lead with the highlighted government PDF; original spreadsheets download with their budget edition and exhibit in the filename.
Budget totals · TOA sources
FY2026 Department of Defense Budget: Procurement Programs (P-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit P-1 · O411
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2026_DoD_P-1_Procurement.xlsx.
FY2024 Department of Defense Budget: Procurement Programs (P-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit P-1 · O418
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2024_DoD_P-1_Procurement.xlsx.
FY2025 Department of Defense Budget: Procurement Programs (P-1) · comptroller.war.gov
Exhibit P-1 · O421
Complete workbook · unchanged saved copy. Saves as PB2025_DoD_P-1_Procurement.xlsx.
Detailed budget justification
The related TOA spreadsheets above use a different accounting basis from R-2/P-40 detail. Their amounts are not assumed to match these detailed sources.