MA-31

MA-31
Type	Target drone
Place of origin	Russia United States
Service history
In service	1996-2007
Used by	United States Navy
Production history
Manufacturer	Boeing, Zvezda-Strela
Specifications
Weight	1,300 pounds (590 kg)
Length	15 ft (4.7 m)
Diameter	14.2 inches (360 mm)
Engine	Solid fuel rocket in initial stage, ramjet for rest of trajectory
Wingspan	36 inches (910 mm)
Operational range	31 mi (50 km)
Speed	Mach 3.5
Launch platform	F-4 Phantom II

The MA-31 was a conversion of the Kh-31 anti-ship missile, developed by the Soviet Union during the 1980s, for use as a target drone by the United States Navy. Although the missile proved successful in this role, political complications resulted in the type being only an interim solution, and only a small number of the missiles were acquired.

The Kh-31 missile was developed by Zvezda-Strela in the Soviet Union starting in 1977 for service as a long-range anti-ship missile and anti-radiation missile, first being flown in 1982. Derived from the P-270 Moskit missile, the Kh-31 is conventional in shape, and has cruciform fins made from titanium, with a rocket-ramjet propulsion system providing thrust.

Following the cancellation of the AQM-127 SLAT target drone program, a requirement for a new high-speed target to replace the MQM-8 Vandal still existed. In an unusual turn of events, the U.S. Navy chose to acquire examples of the Kh-31 missile - the actual threat the drone was intended to simulate - as an interim solution pending the development of an all-new design. In 1995, a contract was awarded to McDonnell Douglas for evaluation of the Kh-31 in the Supersonic Sea-Skimming Target role.

An initial small batch of missiles were acquired, being delivered from the manufacturer as "green" shells, without electronics, to Boeing, which had acquired McDonnell Douglas, in the US for modification and conversion to U.S. Navy standards, including the installation of tracking, telemetry and range-safety systems. The MA-31 was equipped for launch from the QF-4 Phantom II aircraft, and it was proposed to develop a compatible launcher for the F-16N Fighting Falcon.

Designated MA-31 in US service, the first launch of the missile took place in August 1996. Evaluated against an improved MQM-8, the MA-31 proved superior and a contract for 34 production missiles was placed in 1999.