page_title: Ryan Model 147
section_title: AQM-34V / Ryan Model 255
hierarchical_section_title: Ryan Model 147 / Post-Vietnam use and Ryan Models 234, 259 and 255 / AQM-34V / Ryan Model 255
caption_attribution_description: Description: Teledyne Ryan Firebee UAV (reconnaissance variant, IDF designation Mabat) at Muzeyon Heyl ha-Avir, Hatzerim airbase, Israel. 2006. Source: Photo by me, User:Bukvoed.
context_page_description: The Ryan Model 147 Lightning Bug is a jet-powered drone, or unmanned aerial vehicle, produced and developed by Ryan Aeronautical from the earlier Ryan Firebee target drone series.
  Beginning in 1962, the Model 147 was introduced as a reconnaissance RPV for a United States Air Force project named Fire Fly. Over the next decade — assisted with secret funding from the recently formed National Reconnaissance Office along with support of the Strategic Air Command and Ryan Aeronautical's own resources — the basic Model 147 design would be developed into a diverse series of variants configured for a wide array of mission-specific roles, with multiple new systems, sensors and payloads used, modified and improved upon during the operational deployment of these drones in Southeast Asia. Missions performed by the Model 147 series RPVs included high- and low-altitude photographic and electronic aerial reconnaissance, surveillance, decoy, electronic warfare, signals intelligence, and psychological warfare.
  The Ryan drones were designed without landing gear for simplicity and to save weight.
context_section_description: From 1975 to 1978 approximately forty-seven Model 147NC AQM-34H/AQM-34J drones were converted to an improved countermeasures specification with both chaff dispensers and active jamming gear, and redesignated Model 255 / AQM-34V for service with the 432nd Tactical Drone Group at Davis–Monthan Air Force Base. Flight tests commenced in May 1976, and sixteen new production Model 255s were additionally acquired. In 1979 the AQM-34Vs joined the other Lightning Bugs in storage.
caption: Teledyne Ryan reconnaissance UAV (Ryan Model 124I, IDF designation Mabat) at Muzeyon Heyl ha-Avir, Hatzerim Airbase, Israel in 2006.
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