The BQM-177A is designed to meet the need for a highly dynamic, high-subsonic, sea skimming, anti-ship cruise missile threat emulation. Capable of speeds in excess of Mach 1 and also flying at altitudes of over 45,000 feet, the target additionally fulfills missions including the testing and evaluation of new weapon systems along with the training of aviators in air-to-air combat.
This platform was selected as the singular choice of the U.S. Navy for its next generation of subsonic aerial targets, replacing all legacy systems that had been in use for over 30 years.
The BQM-177A can support various mission requirements by carrying a variety of internal and wing tip mounted payloads. Like the slightly larger BQM-167A/i, payloads also include smoke, scoring, IFF, passive and active radar augmentation, electronic countermeasures and infrared (IR), including plume pods, internal chaff and flare dispensing.