BQM-74F Aerial Target
Program Overview:
The BQM-74F is being developed by Northrop Grumman under a U.S. Navy System Development and Demonstration (SDD) contract. Building on the proven success of the BQM-74E, the BQM-74F improves the speed, range, maneuverability, and endurance, increases the payload capability, modernizes the support equipment and retains the utility of a portable, deployable system.
Airframe:
The airframe has with swept wings and tails coupled with an upgrade to the thrust of the BQM-74 engine from 240 to 300 pounds pushes the speed to 0.92M at sea level and increases maneuverability to eight-g instantaneous (five-g sustained). Aggressive all-axis weave maneuvers down to 7 feet provide threat representative ingress maneuvers.
Navigation:
Waypoint navigation is a standard operating mode for the BQM-74F using the integrated IMU/GPS avionics system. Mission planning capability integrated into the PC based support equipment provides detailed mission plans verified with imbedded 6-DOF simulation capability for pre-flight verification. Six missions of up to 70 waypoints are pre-programmable and selected both pre and post launch. Mission profile may be adjusted via the command and control data link. The weave capability includes pre-programmed fixed circular and flat weave maneuvers and user programmable weaves. PC based field test equipment provides real time simulation of programmable weaves prior to download into the air vehicle avionics, and pre-loaded weave maneuvers may be selected after launch. All these features make the BQM-74F the foremost cruise missile replicator available.
