QinetiQ MQM-185 Banshee Jet 80+

The Banshee Jet 80+ is a subscale high-speed aerial target produced by the British company QinetiQ. QinetiQ had acquired Meggitt Target Systems, the original manufacturer of the Banshee series of aerial targets.

Around 2020, the U.S Army's Threat Systems Management Office (TSMO) began evaluating the Banshee Jez 80+ for air-defense training, and the U.S. designation MQM-185A was allocated to the target drone. In May 2023, it was announced that QinetiQ would supply the Army TSMO with the MQM-185B, a version of the Banshee Jet 80+ with unique features developed for the U.S. Army. The nature of these features has not been disclosed in the announcement.

Photo: QinetiQ

Banshee Jet 80+ (MQM-185A)

The MQM-185B is launched from a catapult launcher, and recovered by parachute. The drone can be controlled by an operator, but is also equipped with a GPS unit for autonomous flight along predetermined waypoints. The Banshee Jet 80+ can fly at altitudes between 6 m (16 ft) and 9000 m (30000 ft), and has a typical mission duration of 45 minutes. Ir can be fitted with various equipment like IR sources, flare/chaff dispensers, active radar augmentors and IFF transponders. The MQM-185B is suitable for performance and readiness evaluation of a very wide range of air-to-air and surface-to-air missile and gun systems.

Photo: QinetiQ

MQM-185B

Specifications

Note: Data given by several sources show slight variations. Figures given below may therefore be inaccurate!

Data for MQM-185B:

Length	2.49 m (8 ft 2 in)
Wingspan	2.85 m (9 ft 5 in)
Height	0.78 m (2 ft 6 in)
Weight	?
Speed	720 km/h (450 mph)
Range	> 100 km (60 miles)
Ceiling	9000 m (30000 ft)
Propulsion	2 turbojet; 440 N (100 lb) each

Main Sources

[1] QinetiQ: Banshee Jet 80+
[2] QinetiQ: QinetiQ to deliver unique Banshee Jet 80+ target system to US Army

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Last Updated: 3 January 2024