The drones are designed to replicate threats across a wide spectrum, from small hobbyist platforms to advanced fifth-generation fighters and large multiengine bombers.

Proposals are due by late September 2026, with industry concepts invited for consideration.

Design requirements call for tightly controlled radar signatures and layered infrared and RF emissions to convincingly mimic real combat aircraft.

For supersonic fighter threat simulation, the drones must reach speeds above Mach 1.6 at about 40,000 feet and demonstrate high-G maneuverability.

Drones representing large aircraft would operate around 50,000 feet to match typical threat flight profiles.

The Air Force has issued an RFI seeking a new line of target drones capable of simulating a broad range of aerial threats, from inexpensive hobbyist drones to stealth fighters and bomber-sized aircraft.