QF-16 Zombie Vipers To Keep Flying And Dying Into The 2030s

The U.S. Air Force expects to continue utilizing QF-16 Full Scale Aerial Target (FSAT) drones converted from F-16 Vipers fighters through at least 2035 despite moving in recent years to wind the program down. The “Zombie Vipers” provide valuable full-size fighter targets for testing and training purposes, including to fire live missiles at and even destroy. The service has been looking to acquire new stealthy uncrewed aircraft to meet its future FSAT needs, but has not yet made any substantial progress in this regard.