Ryan AQM-91 Firefly

The Ryan AQM‑91 Firefly was a high‑altitude, long‑range reconnaissance drone developed in the late 1960s by Ryan Aeronautical for the United States Air Force. Built as a successor to the earlier AQM‑34 Lightning Bug, the Firefly first flew in 1965 and entered operational service in 1969, primarily supporting Strategic Air Command missions over hostile territory during the Vietnam War and Cold War. Its all‑metal airframe measured 61 feet in wingspan and was powered by a Pratt & Whitney J60 turbojet, allowing cruise speeds near 500 mph at altitudes above 60,000 feet. The aircraft featured a sophisticated suite of sensors, including a side‑looking airborne radar (SLAR), infrared line‑scan cameras, and electronic intelligence antennas that could relay imagery and signals back to ground stations in near‑real time. The Firefly’s ability to loiter for up to 20 hours made it one of the first unmanned systems capable of deep‑penetration strategic reconnaissance, influencing later UAV programs such as the Global Hawk. Although only a limited number were built before the program ended in 1972, the AQM‑91 demonstrated the viability of high‑altitude unmanned surveillance and paved the way for modern aerial intelligence platforms.

Ryan Aeronautical

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