Boeing turns F-16s into drones

US multinational aerospace and defence corporation Boeing said it has converted ageing F-16 fighter jets into drones.

The company said it has carried out the maiden flight of a F-16 fighter jet without a pilot last week which was controlled by two US Air Force pilots from the ground, reported BBC Wednesday.

The fighter jet flew from a base in the US state of Florida to the Gulf of Mexico at an altitude of 40,000 ft (12.2 km) and at a speed of Mach 1.47 (1,800 kmph), the report added.

It also carried out a few manoeuvres. The company added that the F-16 attained 7Gs of acceleration and was capable of achieving 9Gs - which might cause physical problems for a pilot.

 

"It flew great, everything worked great, (it) made a beautiful landing - probably one of the best landings I've ever seen," BBC quoted Paul Cejas, the project's chief engineer, as saying.

The firm said it had modified six F-16s and renamed them as QF-16s.

Boeing added that the US military was now planning to use these modified jets in live fire tests.