Kratos achieves final development program milestone for BQM-177A

Kratos has announced that they have achieved the final milestone in their development of the BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target drone. The BQM-177A is based on the BQM-167X, which is a derivative of the BQM-167A Skeeter, used by the Air Force as a target drone. The BQM-177A introduces a new fuselage, high mounted wing, and integrated MicroTurbo TR-60-5+ turbojet. It will be capable of supporting multiple missions, by carrying different payloads, both wingtip and internally mounted. Payloads include electronic countermeasures, radar augmentation, infrared, IFF, chaff/flare dispensers, threat simulators, and smoke and scoring. It will be used by the Navy to simulate subsonic threats.

SAN DIEGO, Nov. 29, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Kratos Defense & Security Solutions, Inc. (Nasdaq:KTOS), a leading National Security Solutions provider, announced today that its Unmanned Systems Division (USD) has recently successfully achieved the final development program milestone for its BQM-177A Subsonic Aerial Target (SSAT), which will allow for Low Rate Initial Production (LRIP) to begin once the Federal Fiscal 2017 Budget is approved. The SSAT program is designed to meet the U.S. Navy's requirements for a new High Fidelity Target to replicate subsonic anti-cruise missile threats in direct support of fleet training and weapon system testing and evaluation.

The BQM-177A will initially augment, and will eventually replace the existing BQM-74E Targets and will deliver longer range, lower cruise altitudes and greater maneuverability. The SSAT Program is being managed by the Naval Air System command (NAVAIR) Aerial Target and Decoy Systems Program Office (PMA-208).

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