An F-16 Fighting Falcon explodes, sending debris and shrapnel into the air Aug. 19, 2010, on the range
at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. The explosion was a static test of the flight termination system to be used
in the QF-16, a supersonic reusable full-scale aerial target drone modified from an F-16. The purpose of
the test was to demonstrate that the FTS design will be sufficient to immediately terminate the flight of
a QF-16, as well as to determine a range safety debris footprint. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.) An F-16 Fighting Falcon was intentionally blown apart on the range here as part of a test on an aerial-target flight termination system Aug. 19.
The purpose of the test conducted by the 780th Test Squadron, and overseen by the QF-16 special programs office, was to demonstrate that the FTS design will be sufficient to immediately terminate the flight of a QF-16, a supersonic reusable full-scale aerial target drone modified from an F-16. Each drone contains an FTS, which is needed to satisfy range safety requirements for use in unmanned missions.
The QF-16 will provide a fourth generation full-scale aerial target for air-to-air and surface-to-air weapons systems evaluation, which will be conducted by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla.
"We're taking these non-operational aircraft and reusing them, recycling if you will," said Kevin Diggs, the QF-16 test and evaluation lead. "We find a better purpose for them in making them flight worthy, which gives our weapons designers the opportunity to test our advanced weapons against a modern aircraft. Additionally, our warfighters get an opportunity to train against a quality fourth generation fighter."
Another purpose of the test was to determine a range safety debris footprint, Mr. Diggs said.
"This test was one step toward satisfying range safety requirements," he said.
The non-operational F-16 from the 40th Flight Test Squadron, tail-numbered 78-0097, was destroyed for the test.
At approximately 11:15 a.m., with an audience looking on, the range officials exploded the aircraft. A small ball of flames burst from the middle of the aircraft, followed by thick black smoke, but no sound. The sound followed soon after with a deep reverberating boom.
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