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BQM-167 Skeeter

Composite Engineering Inc. Kratos Defense & Security Solutions · UAV · United States · Modern (1992–2009)

BQM-167 Skeeter — UAV
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The BQM-167 Skeeter — also marketed as the BQM-167A Streaker — is a single-engine jet-powered recoverable target drone developed by Composite Engineering Inc., which Kratos Defense and Security Solutions acquired in 2012. Entering U.S. Air Force service in 2007, the Skeeter is the USAF's principal high-performance subsonic target drone for combat-aircraft and surface-to-air-missile training, replacing the older Northrop BQM-74 Chukar with a faster, more flexible airframe representative of contemporary threat aircraft.

The airframe measures 19.7 ft (6 m) long with an 11.0 ft (3.4 m) wingspan. Empty weight is around 670 lb and maximum take-off weight is 2,200 lb. Power comes from a single Microturbo TRI 60-5 turbojet rated at roughly 625 lbf. Top speed reaches Mach 0.91 (about 700 mph at sea level), with a 50,000 ft service ceiling. Skeeter is launched from a ground-based catapult or from a manned mothership, flies its profile, and recovers under parachute or parafoil for re-use. Configurations cover everything from low-observable cruise-missile signatures to higher-RCS fighter-class targets, flown across low-altitude penetration, medium-altitude cruise, and supersonic dive profiles.

Skeeter's primary mission is full-scale aerial-target work for the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and allied combat-training and weapons-test operations. Air-to-air training has fighters firing AIM-120 AMRAAM and AIM-9 Sidewinder against the drone to validate missile performance and pilot proficiency. Ground- and ship-based shooters — Patriot, the Aegis combat system, NASAMS, and other SAM systems — engage Skeeter to validate end-to-end SAM performance. Fighter aircrew also fly intercept profiles against Skeeter for realistic mission practice. Threat-representative routing, including sub-100 ft penetration runs, supersonic dives, and evasive manoeuvring, can be programmed for each sortie.

The drone has been in continuous service since 2007. Major work runs out of Eglin AFB and Tyndall AFB in Florida for USAF test-and-evaluation, with U.S. Navy missile-test missions flown from Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake in California and the Pacific Missile Range Facility in Hawaii. Skeeter also supports joint exercises such as Red Flag, Cope Tiger, and Cobra Gold. By 2026, more than 250 BQM-167s have been delivered to U.S. military and allied operators, with production continuing at Kratos's Sacramento, California facility. The fleet supports roughly 1,500–2,000 missile and fighter training shots per year — a training pipeline that would otherwise demand far costlier manned target aircraft.

For Kids — a shorter, friendlier version

The BQM-167 Skeeter is an American jet target drone. It first flew around 2004 and entered American Air Force service in 2007. The Skeeter (also called Streaker) is the Air Force's main fast target for missile and fighter training. More than 250 Skeeters have been built.

The Skeeter is small: 20 feet long with an 11-foot wingspan, smaller than a school bus. One Microturbo TRI 60 turbojet makes 625 pounds of thrust. Top speed is 700 mph, faster than most race cars, just below the speed of sound. The drone can climb to 50,000 feet, higher than airliners.

The Skeeter is launched from a ground catapult or from a manned mother plane. After the mission, the Skeeter comes back down under a parachute or parafoil. The drone is then collected, checked, and reused. The Skeeter can imitate cruise missiles, fighter jets, or other threats during training.

American fighter pilots fire real missiles at Skeeters to practice. The drone is built to absorb hits and keep flying, so it can be reused after near-misses. About 1,500 to 2,000 Skeeters are used each year for training. Other countries also buy Skeeters for their training programs.

Fun Facts

  • The BQM-167 Skeeter is an American jet target drone.
  • The Skeeter is 20 feet long, smaller than a school bus.
  • Top speed is 700 mph, faster than most race cars.
  • The Skeeter can climb to 50,000 feet, higher than airliners.
  • More than 250 Skeeters have been built.
  • 1,500 to 2,000 Skeeters are used each year for training.
  • The Skeeter replaced the older BQM-74 Chukar target drone.

Kids’ Questions

Why a target drone?

Fighter pilots need real targets to practice missile shooting. Surface-to-air missile crews need targets too. The Skeeter is a fast jet drone that imitates enemy fighters and cruise missiles. Pilots and gunners fire real missiles at Skeeters, learning what works and what does not. Each near-miss helps a crew get better.

How is it different from the Chukar?

The older BQM-74 Chukar was slower and could not fly as high. The Skeeter is faster (700 mph) and goes higher (50,000 feet). The Skeeter can also be configured to imitate many different threats, from cruise missiles to fighter jets. The Skeeter is more realistic for modern training.

How do you reuse it?

After each mission, the Skeeter comes back down under a parachute or parafoil. Ground crews collect the drone, check it for damage, refuel it, and prepare it for the next mission. The same Skeeter can fly many missions before retiring. This makes the Skeeter much cheaper than a one-time-use target drone.

Variants

BQM-167A Streaker (initial)
Original 2007 production variant, with more than 150 delivered. Used for USAF test-and-evaluation and combat-aircraft training.
BQM-167B (mid-life upgrade)
Improved flight-control system, expanded performance profiles, and greater survivability against U.S. weapons so the airframe can fly multiple training sorties before destruction. Around 80 delivered.
BQM-167X (latest, 2020s)
Latest production variant from around 2020. Updated mission systems, broader threat-representative configurations, and lower per-sortie cost. Currently in production.
MQM-178 Firejet (related, also Kratos)
Sister Kratos / Composite Engineering platform with a different airframe but a similar mission. Smaller and cheaper than BQM-167, operating with USAF and USN alongside Skeeter. See the separate MQM-178 entry.
BQM-177 (USN, related)
U.S. Navy variant tailored for surface-to-air missile target work from naval vessels. Closely related to BQM-167 but with Navy-specific configurations. See the separate BQM-177 entry.

Notable Operators

U.S. Air Force
Primary operator with more than 150 BQM-167 in inventory. The 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall AFB, Florida is the lead unit, with forward operations at Eglin AFB (Florida), Edwards AFB (California), and other test ranges.
U.S. Navy
Operates more than 50 BQM-167-derivative platforms with USN aerial-targets units, flying from NAWC China Lake (California), the Pacific Missile Range Facility (Hawaii), and other naval test ranges.
Foreign / partner operators
Several allied nations operate BQM-167-derivative platforms, including Saudi Arabia (around 30) and Canada (around 20). The Skeeter's mission profile suits allied force concepts that require realistic target operations.
Kratos Defense (manufacturer / test)
Kratos's flight-test fleet at Sacramento, California operates 5–10 BQM-167 for ongoing development testing of new variants, flight modes, and capability upgrades.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does the BQM-167 simulate?

Threat aircraft and cruise-missile profiles across a wide range. Specific configurations cover low-RCS cruise-missile signatures for small-target air-to-air and surface-to-air engagements, and higher-RCS fighter-class signatures representing modern threat fighters. Flight profiles include low-altitude penetration below 100 ft AGL, medium-altitude cruise, supersonic dive, and evasive manoeuvring. Each airframe can be programmed for mission-specific profiles tailored to the weapon under test or the training scenario, making Skeeter suitable for everything from cruise missiles to next-generation fighters.

How is the BQM-167 launched and recovered?

Launch is by ground-based rocket-assisted catapult or air-launch from a manned mothership, typically a C-130 Hercules. Recovery uses a parachute or parafoil — the airframe deploys at end of mission and lands gently on grass, sand, or water (it is buoyant) for re-use. A typical airframe flies 5–10 missions before retirement or scrapping. The launch and recovery equipment is portable, so a launcher can be moved to forward training ranges as needed.

What does the BQM-167 cost?

Per airframe runs about $1.0–1.5M USD depending on configuration, with a per-mission cost of roughly $200–400K USD including airframe, fuel, and mission-system support. Cost-effectiveness comes from recoverability — each airframe typically supports 5–10 training missions. Single-use target drones cost only $50–100K USD per airframe but fly just once, so Skeeter's higher unit price plus reusability tends to win on total programme cost for sustained training.

What weapons can be tested against BQM-167?

Most U.S. and allied air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons. Air-to-air work covers AIM-9 Sidewinder and its successor variants, the legacy AIM-7 Sparrow, and AIM-120 AMRAAM including AMRAAM-extended variants. Surface-to-air engagements include Patriot PAC-2 and PAC-3, NASAMS, Aegis SM-6, Iron Dome, and other SAM systems. Skeeter supports both training — where aircrew and SAM crews validate engagement procedures — and weapons-test missions where new weapons are scored against representative targets in operationally relevant scenarios.

How does BQM-167 differ from BQM-74 Chukar?

The BQM-74 Chukar, a USN/USAF target drone fielded in 1968, has a smaller airframe (around 12 ft long), a Mach 0.85 top speed, and a more limited threat-profile envelope. BQM-167 Skeeter is 19.7 ft long, hits Mach 0.91, offers a wider range of programmable threat profiles, and is recoverable. The result is more realistic representation of modern threats for current weapons-system testing.

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