One of the earliest, successful unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) used by the United States was the airborne-launched Q-2 designed by the Ryan Aeronautical Company. The Q-2, also called “Firebees”, began testing in 1951 and could sustain up to two hours of flight and could reach a maximum height of 60,000 feet. The design and evolution of the Firebee led to the creation of the Fire Fly and Lightning Bug UAVs, also produced by Ryan Aeronautical Company. These were specifically reconnaissance vehicles and were extremely successful during the Vietnam War.

Figure 1: Q-2A Firebee (Parsch)

The Firebee featured swept flight surfaces and a circular inlet at the nose. The Firebee could be ground-launched by a single RATO booster, or it could be air-launched off of a specifically modified Douglas A-26 Invader bomber. The Firebee went through a few upgrades and uterations during its life. The redesiging of the Firebee included a new nose configuration, with a new “chin” intake. Stronger, more powerful engines replaced the existing ones, the wings became slightly longer, and they were fitted with a longer-lasting booster. By the early 1990s, the Firebee BQM-34S had been equipped with electronic countermeasure equipment, flare and chaff dispensers, tracking beacons, transponders, and other reconnaissance equipment.

Figure 2: Firebee BQM-34S (Parsch)

Today, KRATOS Unmanned Systems Division is producing the BQM-167A Air Force Subscale Aerial Target; this a modern take on the original Firebee heritage. This new design consists of a carbon fiber and epoxy construction to allow a significant increase in performance and endurance of the aircraft. The previous designs were built out of aluminum. It has a maximum airspeed of 0.92 Mach (U. S. Air Force). The altitude capabilities range from 50 ft above ground to 50,000 ft above sea level.

Figure 3: BQM-167A (KRATOS)

KRATOS. (n.d.). BQM-167A. Retrieved January 15, 2016, from http://www.kratosusd.com/products/unmanned-aerial-systems/bqm-167a

Parsch, A. (n.d.). Teledyne Ryan Q-2/KDA/xQM-34/BGM-34 Firebee. Retrieved January 15, 2016, from http://www.designation-systems.net/dusrm/m-34.html

U.S. Air Force. (2009, May 20). U.S. Air Force. Retrieved January 15, 2016, from http://www.af.mil/AboutUs/FactSheets/Display/tabid/224/Article/104562/bqm-167a-air-force-subscale-aerial-target.aspx