First full-rate production order for BQM-177A target

Kratos has received a first full-rate production (FRP) contract for the US Navy's (USN’s) new BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target.

Kratos has received a first full-rate production contract for the BQM-177A target. (US Navy)

The USD29.2 million firm-fixed-price contract, awarded on 29 September, provides for the production and delivery of 35 FRP Lot I BQM-177A targets.

Designed to initially augment, and eventually replace, the USN's existing BQM-74E aerial target, the BQM-177A is a new high-fidelity recoverable target developed by Kratos to replicate subsonic anti-cruise missile threats in support of fleet training and weapon system testing and evaluation. Compared with the systems it will replace, the BQM-177A will deliver longer range, lower cruise altitudes (down to 10 ft), high speed (Mach 0.95) and greater manoeuvrability (-2g to 9g).

The BQM-177A can also carry a variety of internal and wing tip-mounted payloads. These include electronic countermeasures, active and passive radar augmentation, infrared, identification friend or foe, internal chaff and flare dispensing, threat emitter simulators, smoke generators, and scoring systems.