×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

BAe QF-4 (McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II)


Unmanned Target Drone


United States | 1997



"The BAe QF-4 became a full-scale, reusable target drone for the USAF and USN based on the Vietnam War-era McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II fighter."

Power & Performance
Those special qualities that separate one aircraft design from another. Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the BAe QF-4 Unmanned Target Drone.
2 x General Electric J79 turbojet engines developing 17,845 lb thrust with afterburner.
Propulsion
1,599 mph
2,574 kph | 1,390 kts
Max Speed
59,652 ft
18,182 m | 11 miles
Service Ceiling
1,300 miles
2,092 km | 1,130 nm
Operational Range
41,300 ft/min
12,588 m/min
Rate-of-Climb
Structure
The nose-to-tail, wingtip-to-wingtip physical qualities of the BAe QF-4 Unmanned Target Drone.
0
(UNMANNED)
Crew
30.2 ft
9.20 m
O/A Length
38.4 ft
(11.70 m)
O/A Width
16.4 ft
(5.00 m)
O/A Height
41,502 lb
(18,825 kg)
Empty Weight
61,796 lb
(28,030 kg)
MTOW
Armament
Available supported armament and special-mission equipment featured in the design of the BAe QF-4 (McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II) Unmanned Target Drone .
None as the air vehicle is expendable. Explosives are placed internally in the event that the drone becomes unresponsive and uncontrollable.
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the BAe QF-4 (McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II) family line.
QF-4 - Base Series Designation; based on the McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II airframe.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/21/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The QF-4 represents a full-size unmanned target drone version of the successful Cold War-era F-4 Phantom II aircraft. QF-4's are operated by the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron (itself under the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group of the 53rd Wing of Elgin AFB, Florida) out of Tyndall Air Force Base. Drones are utilized for a variety of reasons with these QF-4's mounting various countermeasures to research a bevy of weapons and tactical maneuvers.

The QF-4 drone was put into operational service in 1997 as converted F-4 Phantom II models. It is a remote-controlled aerial target that has the benefit of being reusable. Remote controlling is handled by either a pilot at a nearby ground control station or can be fully under computer control via the Gulf Range Drone Control System. Either way, a chase plan is utilized during the exercises as a precaution. Other precautionary measures include the use of internally-held explosives aboard the QF-4. Should the system become unstable or unresponsive, ground forces have the ability to directly destroy the runaway unit if need be. Exercises are only accomplished over water sources deemed available to drone programs in the United States.

QF-4 drones are essentially full-working modified models of their F-4 forefathers. Modifications of the original McDonnell aircraft were handled by BAE Systems at the cost of $2.6 million per system conversion. The airframe has retained all visible similarities to the former and internal systems such as the General Electric turbojet engines (with reheat capability) are all accounted for. Performance specs include a top speed of Mach 2, a range of 1,300 miles and a service ceiling of 60,000 feet.

The QF-4 succeeded the QF-106 (based on USAF F-106 aircraft) in the USAF drone inventory. Some 86 total QF-4 drones were known to be in service as of this writing (2008). 250 total QF-4 target drones were registered as shot down as of 2013.

The QF-4 line has since been succeeded by the QF-16 which is a target drone variant of the popular and successful Lockheed Martin / General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon (2015). Formal replacement of QF-4 drones is expected during 2015.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the BAe QF-4 (McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national aircraft listing.

Total Production: 250 Units

Contractor(s): BAe Systems / McDonnell Aircraft Corporation - USA
National flag of the United States

[ United States ]
1 / 1
Image of the BAe QF-4 (McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II)

Going Further...
The BAe QF-4 (McDonnell Douglas F-4 Phantom II) Unmanned Target Drone appears in the following collections:
HOME
AVIATION INDEX
AIRCRAFT BY COUNTRY
AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE AIRCRAFT
AIRCRAFT BY CONFLICT
AIRCRAFT BY TYPE
AIRCRAFT BY DECADE
MODERN AIRCRAFT
DRONE TECHNOLOGY
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)