Beechcraft AQM-37 Jayhawk

Beechcraft · United States · first flew 1961 · reconnaissance aircraft

The AQM-37 Jayhawk is a supersonic air-launched aerial target used by the US Navy and allied forces to simulate high-speed anti-ship missiles and aircraft for surface-to-air missile evaluation.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, delta
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	3.48 m fuselage
T — Tail	Cruciform

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Spot it by:

Supersonic aerial target missile used for fleet missile system testing
Small delta-wing supersonic drone, crew 0 (unmanned)
Air-launched from carrier aircraft for high-speed threat simulation

Extremely small delta-wing vehicle with a slender body, cruciform tail surfaces, and no landing gear; designed to be expended in flight.

Specifications

The Beechcraft AQM-37 Jayhawk has a length of 3.48 m (11 ft).
It has a wingspan of 0.76 m (2 ft).
Its maximum speed is 3400 km/h (2113 mph).
Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).

Figures are for the representative variant described above; marks differ. See how AircraftIQ sources figures.

History

Developed by Beechcraft in the early 1960s as a high-performance target to challenge modern SAM systems, the AQM-37 has remained in production through several variants over decades due to its effectiveness in simulating Mach 3+ threats at altitude. It is air-launched from fighter and attack aircraft.

Variants

The AQM-37 family includes multiple upgrade variants with improved propulsion and electronics; the C variant is one of the most widely produced.

Where you'll see it

Used extensively by the US Navy and numerous allied navies for SAM system testing; not a crewed aircraft.

Related aircraft

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