Atlantic Research MQR-16 Gunrunner

The Gunrunner was a low-cost expendable ballistic aerial target system for air-defense weapon training. It was developed in the late 1960s mainly for use in Army and Navy training with the FIM-43 Redeye man-portable surface-to-air missiles, and entered service in 1969. In March 1971, the designation MQR-16A was assigned to Gunrunner.

Photo: via National Aerospace Education Council

MQR-16A

The MQR-16A was of simple and light-weight construction, using plywood fins and readily available HVAR (High Velocity Aerial Rocket) motors for propulsion. It carried an IR source in the nose to make lock-on by the FIM-43 Redeye missile possible. For a high launch rate, the Gunrunner was launched from a three-rocket launcher with adjustable elevation and azimuth. The target was probably phased out of service at some time in the late 1980s.

Specifications

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

Data for MQR-16A:

Length	4.88 m (16 ft)
Diameter	0.51 m (20 in)
Weight	131 kg (290 lb)
Speed	930 km/h (500 kts)
Range	4900 m (16000 ft)
Flight Time	10-33 s
Propulsion	Booster: HVAR (0.86ES5800) solid-fuel rocket; 26 kN (5800 lb) for 0.86 s Sustainer: 10KS300 solid-fuel rocket; 1.3 kN (300 lb) for 10 s

Main Sources

[1] James J. Haggerty (ed.): "1970 United States Aircraft, Missiles and Spacecraft", National Aerospace Education Council, 1970
[2] Department of Defense Missile Nomenclature Records

Back to Current Designations Of U.S. Unmanned Military Aerospace Vehicles
Back to Directory of U.S. Military Rockets and Missiles

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Last Updated: 22 October 2002