Target drone

Lore & Background

One of the earliest drones was the British DH.82 Queen Bee, a variant of the Tiger Moth trainer aircraft operational from 1935. Its name led to the present term 'drone'. In the United Kingdom, obsolete Royal Air Force and Royal Navy jet and propeller-powered aircraft such as the Fairey Firefly, Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Sea Vixen used at RAE Llanbedr between the 1950s and 1990s have also been modified into remote-controlled drones, but such modifications are costly. With a much larger budget, the U.S. military has been more likely to convert retired aircraft or older versions of still serving aircraft (e.g., QF-4 Phantom II and QF-16 Fighting Falcon) into remotely piloted targets for US Air Force, US Navy and US Marine Corps use as Full-Scale Aerial Targets. More advanced drones are made from large, older missiles which have had their warheads removed.

Reader's Guide

Target drones have played a significant role in the training of anti-aircraft crews, providing realistic aerial targets that can simulate manned aircraft. The evolution from simple radio-controlled models to sophisticated conversions of retired military aircraft reflects the increasing need for realistic training. The British DH.82 Queen Bee, operational from 1935, not only served as an early drone but also gave the term 'drone' to the field. While the United Kingdom converted aircraft like the Fairey Firefly, Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Sea Vixen for use at RAE Llanbedr, the high cost limited such programs. The United States, with larger budgets, has extensively converted retired aircraft such as the QF-4 Phantom II and QF-16 Fighting Falcon into Full-Scale Aerial Targets for all branches of its military. Additionally, some target drones are created by removing warheads from older missiles, offering another cost-effective method. The legacy of target drones is their enduring utility in preparing air defense forces for real-world threats.

Did You Know?

• The term 'drone' originated from the British DH.82 Queen Bee target drone.
• The DH.82 Queen Bee was a variant of the Tiger Moth trainer aircraft and became operational in 1935.
• Obsolete UK aircraft like the Fairey Firefly, Gloster Meteor and de Havilland Sea Vixen were modified into drones at RAE Llanbedr.
• The U.S. military has converted QF-4 Phantom II and QF-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft into remotely piloted targets.