The BQM-90 was an unmanned aircraft proposed for use as a target drone by the

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. Developed during the 1970s, no aircraft were built before the project was cancelled.

Overview

The BQM-90 project was begun in 1970 under the designation ZBQM-90A; the intent of the program was to create a supersonic, high-altitude target drone for use in testing air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles. It was to be launched from the ground or the air, using a

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powerplant, and would be controlled by either ground-baser or airborne control stations. The requirements for flight performance were increased during development; eventually the specification called for the BQM-90 to simulate a sea skimming anti-ship missile at

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1.3 or a high altitude missile travelling at a speed of Mach 3 and an altitude of . At the end of a flight the drone was to deploy a

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, allowing it to be recovered and re-used. ZBQM-90A program was cancelled in 1973 due to a lack of funding.

Overview

See also