Dayton/Cincinnati

The Fifth Generation Target Study (5GTS) was a conceptual design task for a large target drone aircraft capable of representing key 5th generation fighter signature and performance attributes. The target drone’s intended uses are to test air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, and to ensure that modern tracking systems are capable of identifying and targeting 5th generation fighters. The costs associated with a new military design were unaffordable for a target, so the team looked into taking advantage of the materials and methods that were developed for the new Very Light Jets in general aviation.  This study was to recommend an interim full scale target to continue full scale testing, after the depletion of the inventory of QF-4 targets, and to design a new target more representative of the 5th Generation threat.