The US Air Force has awarded Kratos Defense & Security Solutions a $21.7-million contract for the full-rate production of BQM-167A aerial target drones.

Under the five-year agreement, the company will deliver 17 BQM-167A systems to the service as part of a Lot 19 Air Force Subscale Aerial Targets (AFSAT) procurement effort.

The contract will supply associated flight consumables, mission kits, and technical data alongside the drones.

Sustaining Air Force Training and Tests

The project follows an initial $338-million contract awarded to Kratos for producing AFSAT Lots 17 to 21 and spare equipment.

The agreement included out-of-warranty repairs and logistics support for the BQM-167As.

If all options are exercised, the AFSAT maximum production quantity value will reach $374 million.

Work for the overall BQM-167A supply will be conducted at the Kratos manufacturing site.

“Kratos’ affordable target systems provide an incredibly high-performance-to-cost ratio and key, high-performance and threat-representative capabilities to support USAF training and test needs,” Kratos Unmanned Systems President Steve Fendley stated.

“We have shared a great partnership and team approach with the USAF throughout our nearly 20 years of working together on target systems.”

“Kratos is excited that our system maturity warrants and enables the long-term contract and proud that the Air Force has this confidence in our target systems and personnel.”