Anti-Ship Missile Target, USN project, canceled 1973. Also refered to as ZBQ-90A.

Historical Essay © Andreas Parsch

BQM-90

In 1970, the U.S. Navy began the ZBQM-90A program to develop a new high-altitude supersonic target for air-to-air and surface-to-air missile test and evaluation. The BQM-90 was to be suitable for ground and air launch, and to be recoverable by parachute. The target was planned to be powered by a turbojet, and to be remotely controlled by air- and ground-based control stations. The altitude requirements were eventually extended to cover also sea-skimming flight profiles for anti-ship missile threat simulation. The ZBQM-90A program continued until 1973, when it was cancelled because of lack of funding. It seems that no contractor had yet been selected at the time of cancellation.

I have no details about the planned physical characteristics of the BQM-90 target.

[1] Department of Defense Missile Nomenclature Records
[2] William Wagner, William P. Sloan: "Fireflies and other UAVs", Midland Publishing, 1992

Manufacturer: NASC.