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  TELEDYNE Ryan AQM-34V "FireBee"    
     
   
   
 
SPECIFICATIONS            Serial # :  74-2147
Span:  15 feet Cost:  $469,000
Length:  26 feet Speed: 645 mph
Armament: None Range:  750 miles
Weight:  3,750 lbs. Service Ceiling:  50,000 ft.
Engines:  Continental J69    
 
 
 
 
 
     
     
 

The AQM-24V, electronic countermeasures drone was developed from the BQM-34A jet-powered, subsonic target drone first produced in 1960. It was one of a series of remotely piloted vehicles (RPVs) used for combat electronic countermeasures in Southeast Asia.

In 1967, the Air Force initiated the "Combat Angle" program to modify AQM-34Gs for pre-strike electronic countermeasures (ECM) missions, because too many manned ECM aircraft were lost over North Vietnam. However, with the bombing halt in November 1968, the pre-strike ECM capability was no longer needed, and no modified AQM-34Gs were used operational in that role. "Combat Angle" was revived in 1974, and Teledyne Ryan was awarded a contract to modify surviving AQM-34H/Js to a standardized ECM version designated AQM-34V. The AQM-34V was first flight tested in March 1976. It was launched from a C-130 director aircraft and equipped with active jamming equipment and AN/ALE-2 and -38 chaff dispenser pods. About 60 AQM-34Vs were built.

WR-ALC is responsible for program management for all AQM-34 type RPVs in the USAF. The AQM-34V on display was delivered to the USAF in January 1977 and assigned to WR-ALC for storage. It remained in storage until 1984 when it was released to the Museum for display.