The aircraft was identified as a QF - 16 c

 

Located at Tyndall (53 WEG) 53rd weapons evaluation group will take possession of the airborne target full QF-16s (TASF) scale and will be used for testing development and compatibility with the Gulf Beach Drone control system. It is anticipated that this process will take up to six months.

The drones are able to fly unmanned missions, but officials say training is necessary before they use ultimately drones during pilot training.

"At one point in four or five months from now, will fly us some unmanned missions that we will shoot with aerial targets so we are very excited about it," said retired Colonel Michael MacWilliam which struck the QF - 16 Tyndall Monday.

The intent is to QF - 16 replace it older QF-4 fleet, which have been the mainstay in this current role. The F - 16 drone is an upgrade or more manageable and easier to control than the ex-Viet Nam era warhorse.

The air force is not the only customers who intend to train and use the QF-16. The Navy, Marine Corp, army want to test with the new drones, to assess their own weapon systems.

Boeing has been the price of the contract in March 2012, modify and develop the QF-16, with the first six jets based at Cecil Field, Jacksonville for the updates. All must be delivered to the 53 WEG in December of this year. If all goes well the Army Air has an option to purchase up to 126 TASF.

"We take the gun out of it and replace it with electronic control boxes," said Bill Higginbotham, the Director of the development testing of the QF-16 program at Boeing. "You have a box that will act as a pilot in the seat back."

The QF-16 can be used by a driver or via remote control, said Higginbotham. He also said that eventually a bomb would be placed on board the aircraft so could be destroyed if necessary.