In the late 1950s, theUSAFawarded Ryan a contract for a substantially improved second generation Firebee, the Model 124, originally with the designation Q-2C. The initial prototype performed its first flight in late 1958 and went into production in 1960. In 1963, it was redesignated the BQM-34A. The old first-generation KDA-1 and KDA-4 targets then still flying with the Navy were (somewhat confusingly) given the respective redesignationsAQM-34BandAQM-34C.

The BQM-34A emerged as the Firebee as it is recognized today, with a bigger airframe, longer wings, and a particular chin-type inlet under a pointed nose (in contrast to the circular intake of the first-generation Firebees). It was powered by a Continental J69-T-29A turbojet, a copy of the improved Turbomeca Gourdon derivative of the Marbore, with 1,700lbf(7.6 kN) thrust. The U.S. Navy also adopted the BQM-34A, while the Army obtained a ground-launched version designated MQM-34D with longer wings and a heavier JATO booster.

A feature of the second-generation Firebee is that some photographs show it to with triangular endplates on thetailplane, while others show no endplates but feature aventral finunder the tail, and still others have neither endplates nor ventral fin. Since most modern hotographs of Firebees show the ventral fin, this may have been due to production changes or later refits (reference sources are unclear on this).

In 1960 the firststealth technologydevelopment program was initiated by USAF, by reducing theradar cross-sectionof a Q-2C drone. This was achieved through specially designed screens over the air intake,radiation-absorbent materialon the fuselage and a specialradar-absorbing paint.

ITEM NUMBER48401SCALE1:48DATE07.05.2021TIME PERIODAfter 1950MARKINGSUS Navy BQM-34 Firebee Target Drone. Naval Base Ventura County.US Navy BQM-34 completed 36 successful missionsUS Air Force BQM-34 Firebee Target Drone, Wallace Air StationUS Navy BQM-34 Firebee Target Drone, 2000sMODEL SIZE (LENGTH X WIDTH)146 x 81 mmBOX SIZE247 x 183 x 33 mmNUMBER OF DETAILS36