Beechcraft BQM-126

The Beechcraft BQM-126A, also known by the company designation Model 997, is a subsonic aerial target drone developed by Beechcraft for use by the United States Navy; no production of the type was undertaken. It was proposed in response to a 1983 Navy requirement for a target drone to replace the BQM-34, based in design on the Army MQM-107 Streaker, as a low-wing pilotless aircraft with a twin-tail configuration to reduce its height so that launching aircraft could carry it. A Microturbo J403 turbojet provided propulsion. The first flight of the Model 997 took place in March 1984, the Navy ordered full-scale development in 1985 and the first launch of a pre-production BQM-126A took place on 30 March 1987. Orders for up to 700 were planned, but production was cancelled because of budgetary constraints. One surviving drone is displayed at the Yanks Air Museum in Chino, California.