Northrop BQM-74 Chukar

Northrop · United States · first flew 1968 · reconnaissance aircraft

The BQM-74 Chukar is a subsonic to transonic aerial target drone used by the US Navy and allied forces to train surface-to-air missile crews and evaluate weapons systems.

Recognition (WEFT)

W — Wings	Mid-mounted, straight
E — Engines	1 × turbojet, fuselage-mounted
F — Fuselage	3.89 m fuselage
T — Tail	Cruciform

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Spot it by:

Jet-powered aerial target drone used for surface-to-air missile training
Single small turbojet with cruciform tail surfaces
Unmanned expendable target; crew 0 (unmanned)

Small mid-wing target drone with a cigar-shaped fuselage, cruciform tail, and a single small jet engine; mid-wing position and compact proportions distinguish it from larger target drones.

Specifications

The Northrop BQM-74 Chukar has a length of 3.89 m (13 ft).
It has a wingspan of 1.74 m (6 ft).
Its maximum speed is 1002 km/h (623 mph).
Typical crew: 0 (unmanned).

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

History

Northrop began developing the Chukar family in the late 1960s; successive variants (Chukar I, II, and III) progressively improved speed, altitude capability, and mission flexibility. The BQM-74E Chukar III became the primary variant, capable of simulating a range of threat profiles for SAM system testing.

Variants

The BQM-74 family spans the KD2R-5, Chukar I (MQM-74A), Chukar II (BQM-74C), and Chukar III (BQM-74E); the E model introduced a turbofan engine and improved control.

Where you'll see it

Widely used by the US Navy and numerous NATO and allied nations for missile system evaluation and crew training; produced in large numbers and expendable in use.

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