TDD

The TDD (Target Development Drone) was a breakthrough aircraft produced by the Radioplane Company in the early 1970s. Conceived as a high‑speed, reusable target for the expanding missile‑testing programs of the United States Air Force, the TDD entered service in 1974 and quickly became a workhorse for both live‑fire ranges and research laboratories. The airframe employed a lightweight aluminum‑titanium alloy with a distinctive twin‑boom layout, giving it excellent stability at speeds up to Mach 1.4. Its 1,800‑horse‑power turbofan, supplied by Lycoming, could be throttled for short‑duration climbs or sustained cruise, while a digital autopilot allowed fully autonomous flight profiles programmed via a ground‑based data link. Modular bays held interchangeable payloads, ranging from radar cross‑section enhancers to infrared signatures, making the TDD a valuable testbed for a wide variety of sensor and weapon systems. The aircraft’s low observable design, combined with its recoverable construction, set a new standard for cost‑effective target drones. By the late 1980s the TDD had inspired the next generation of tactical unmanned aerial vehicles, cementing Radioplane’s reputation as a pioneer in modern UAV technology. Its legacy endures in contemporary training programs worldwide, where refurbished TDD airframes still provide realistic threat simulation for modern air defense crews.