A concept image shows a Fifth Generation Aerial Target (5GAT) releasing chaff during an evaluation of a heat-seeking missile fired by a Lockheed Martin F-35.
A large, jet-powered aerial target designed to loosely approximate China’s J-20 fighter crashed only seconds into its first flight three years ago, but a Pentagon office has revived the program with a nearly $80 million contract award for the small business contractor to refine the design, build more prototypes and return the aircraft to flight testing.
The Fifth Generation Aerial Target (5GAT), which was built by Tehachapi, California-based Sierra Technical Services (STS), met “all ground test objectives,” but a software error caused the prototype to crash on its first flight on Oct. 23, 2020. The program was then placed on hiatus.
In 2021, the program moved to the Test and Resources Management Center (TRMC) in the Office Of The Secretary Of Defense from the Director of Operational Test & Evaluation (DOT&E).
Seeking an inexpensive, advanced aerial target to evaluate a new generation of fighters, air-to-air weapons and targeting sensors, the TRMC revived the 5GAT program and released a solicitation for bids through a U.S. Army contracting office in April 2022.
The TRMC awarded a $77 million contract to restart the 5GAT program on Aug. 4 to Advanced Technology International, Inc., which manages the Training and Readiness Accelerator consortium. As a member of the consortium, STS will serve as the prime contractor to develop and build the 5GAT aircraft.
“The goal for the program is to obtain ‘game-changing,’ revolutionary high-risk/high-reward advancements that propel the ability to perform [the military’s test and evaluation] activities, thus mitigating the time frames of associated military capability obsolescence,” the TRMC said in a contract award announcement.
“Due to the increased cost and lifespan of the latest, fifth generation of fighter aircraft, there are no retired airframes available that adequately represent the characteristics of fifth generation threats. Key amongst these characteristics is size, signature, and electronic attack payloads,” the award announcement explains.
The new contract award keeps a program going that started 17 years ago. In 2006, the DOT&E began evaluating designs for a new aerial target, according to the office’s 2015 annual report. The DOT&E gathered experts, including retired Lockheed Martin Skunk Works engineers, to produce a concept design. By 2015, the DOT&E had spent $11 million to move the program forward. Two years later, STS received a $36.7 million contract to build and fly the first two 5GAT prototypes.
The resulting design seeks to produce a low signature on radar displays, allowing the military to evaluate the effectiveness of new technologies against a stealthy aerial threat. To minimize costs, the 5GAT aircraft also harvests major systems, including GE Aerospace J85 engines, from retired aircraft such as the Northrop T-38 Talon.
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