HOLLOMAN AFB – 82 Arts det.1 2012-10-16

Holloman AFB 82 Arts – det.1

Report by : P.Y Lecoeur

Holloman is located in New Mexico’s Tularosa Basin between the Sacramento and San Andreas mountain ranges. The base is about 10 miles west of Alamogordo, New Mexico. The base covers 59,639 acres of land and is located at an altitude of 4,093 feet. Holloman is home to the world’s longest, 50,188 feet (almost 10 miles), and fastest, approaching 10,000 feet per second (Mach 9), Test Track.

HAFB overflies virtually all of WSMR and utilizes the Red Rio and Oscura Bombing Areas in the northeast corner of WSMR, and YONDER Impact Area in the San Andres Mountains.

The supersonic QF-4 from 82 Arts – det.1 are reusable full-scale target drones modified from the F-4 Phantom. The QF-4 provides a realistic full-scale target for air-to-air weapons system evaluation, development and testing at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and Holloman AFB, N.M.

The QF-4 is a remotely controlled target, which simulates enemy aircraft maneuvers. The drone can be flown by remote control or with a safety pilot to monitor its performance. The drone is flown unmanned when missiles are fired at it, and only in specific over-water airspace authorized for unmanned flight. When flown unmanned, an explosive device is placed in the QF-4 to destroy the aircraft if it inadvertently becomes uncontrollable

The QF-4 is equipped to carry electronic and infrared countermeasures to fully evaluate fighters and weapons flown and fired against it. Full-scale drone aircraft can be flown totally by computer using the Gulf Range Drone Control System, or controlled manually during takeoff and landing using a mobile control station located at the drone runway. The drone fleet is operated and maintained by the 82d Aerial Targets Squadron, located at Tyndall AFB and his permanent detachement at Hoolman AFB, N.M. The squadron is a subordinate unit of the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall AFB. The 53rd WEG reports to the 53rd Wing at Eglin AFB, Fla. The QF-4 program attained initial operational capability on 1997. Chase plane trails the drone during critical periods of flight.

GlobalAirPower would like to exprime his thanks to all the personnel of 82d Aerial Targets Squadron – Det 1 , for their professionalism and wonderful hospitality .

Technical documentation source : USAF – globalsecurity