Ready, Aim, Fire

July 9, 2014 | By June L. Kim

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

The Air Force recently tested a Boeing QF-16 aerial target drone in a live fire exercise at Holloman AFB, N.M. During the June 25 exercise, a QF-16 took off in the early morning and flew for a little more than an hour over Holloman airspace, base spokesman 1st Lt. Bryant Davis told Air Force Magazine. Lt. Col. Brian Swyt, commander of the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, Det. 1, acted as a guide by flying an F-4 Phantom “during the QF-16 landing process to ensure an accurate landing,” according to a July 3 release. The Air Force fired live munition at the unmanned QF-16, but did not strike it. Boeing is converting retired F-16s into aerial target drones for the Air Force, states the company website.

Audio of this article is brought to you by the Air & Space Forces Association, honoring and supporting our Airmen, Guardians, and their families. Find out more at afa.org

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