DATE:03/01/06
SOURCE:Flight International

The US Air Force has finally moved to address a nearly decade-old need for a full-scale target to  succeed its McDonnell Douglas QF-4s, issuing a notice to contractors to start work on proposals  for a new analysis of alternatives.

A new air-superiority target development programme is expected to be launched within three  years, ahead of a four-year development and demonstration phase and a production decision  during fiscal year 2012, says a newly released acquisition document.

The US military destroys 25 QF-4s each year, but replenishes its inventory at a rate of only 20 a year. If that trend continues, QF-4 stocks will be exhausted by about 2011, says a Defense  Science Board (DSB) task force report on aerial targets.

The air force has asked industry to submit bids for a new target fleet that could include using  retired or stored military aircraft, unmanned combat air vehicles, foreign aircraft or new designs.

New QF variants of the Lockheed Martin F-16 and Boeing F/A-18 are considered leading  contenders, with another option being to continue modifying F-4s into targets after acquiring airframes from foreign militaries.

An all-new design could also be selected, such as a concept being proposed by BAE Systems -  which prepares QF-4s at a facility in Mojave, California - and Scaled Composites.

Their proposed blended wing/body, all-composite airframe is 16.5m (54ft) long, has an 8.2m wing  span and would be powered by a Pratt & Whitney F100-200 engine.

The DSB report found that the "F-16 is the most suitable candidate airframe for replacing the F-4", despite involving upfront development costs.

STEPHEN TRIMBLE/WASHINGTON DC

Just use the superhornet - it can do everything!

One response and that's it?

It's the F-4 Phantom!!
That should be at least 8 pages....

The hummer is done to.  Supposed to be totally phased out within 6 years and replaced by....
.....an electric vehicle
Wait, that means they'll be up for auction

We have alot of A model 16s sitting at AMRC.  Put them to use.

Saw the F-4's flying at the Reno air races the year before last. I feel fortunate to have seen them fly.

Fuck that shit!

If we continue to pick fights with turd-world shitholes (like IRAN - hint, hint) we won't have to worry about target shortages.

That's great - it's actually mentioned in the article that the F/A-18 could be a replacement for it!

Another addition to the list of accomplishments that incredible aircraft can do; Ground Attack, Fleet Air Defense, Tanker, ASW Platform, Target Drone...

-Gator (had to get the obigatory Hornet bashing in before the thread gets locked)

Quoted: Just use the superhornet - it can do everything!

LOL.

BTW, there MUST be an alternative to blowing all our Phantoms up.

Whenever I go to airshows i always see a ton of F-5's, i think quite a few are private purchase as well. Since they are small nimble fighters, I think they would make a "better" target than an F-4 or F-18.

What about surplus Russian M1G-15, -17, -19, -21, etc?

Those will outlast the century!