Air Defense Targets

The Air Defense Targets program is a procurement initiative under the Army's Missile Procurement appropriation, specifically within the Support Equipment and Facilities budget activity. The primary goal of this program is to acquire target hardware and associated training devices including scoring systems, payloads, and ground support equipment to enable Air Defense Artillery (ADA) units to conduct mandatory training and qualification exercises. The program supports training requirements outlined in Department of the Army Pamphlet (DA PAM) 350-38, which governs standards in weapons training. This is critical for maintaining the operational readiness of ADA Soldiers and units.

The objectives of the Air Defense Targets program focus on providing realistic, effective, and safe training environments for ADA personnel. This includes the procurement of Remotely Piloted Vehicle Targets (RPVTs), which serve as aerial targets for gunnery tables, missile live-fire exercises, and aerial target tracking. These targets are essential for training with the Army's Avenger and Maneuver-Short Range Air Defense (M-SHORAD) platforms, as well as for supporting collective training exercises and Force Development Test and Experimentation (FDT&E) related to engagement techniques against small unmanned aircraft systems (sUAS).

A significant component of the program is the acquisition of specialized payloads and scoring systems. These include Infrared Kit Payloads, Acoustic Scoring Payloads and Ground Control Stations (GCS), Radar Scoring Payloads and GCS, and RPVT Lighting Kit Payloads. Each of these payloads is designed to simulate different threat profiles and provide objective scoring data for live-fire and tracking exercises. The inclusion of Smoke Generator Payloads and Over the Horizon Beyond Visual Range (BVR) Payloads enhances the realism and complexity of training scenarios, allowing units to prepare for a wide range of operational contingencies.

The program also funds the procurement of launchers and various types of Ground Control Stations, including manual navigation and BVR navigation systems. These components are necessary for the deployment, control, and recovery of the aerial targets during training exercises. The technical refresh of software, such as Windows OS updates for control systems, ensures that the training infrastructure remains current and secure. This supports reliable operation and integration with evolving Army training requirements.

Procurement under this line item is justified by the need to maintain compliance with Army Regulation 220-1, which mandates unit readiness and Soldier qualification, and by Section 1815 of the FY 2008 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which requires support for both active and reserve components in homeland defense and global contingency missions. The program's requirements are generated by Army Major Commands, Training Centers, and Division-level Commands, and are validated against current force structure and training doctrine.

The Air Defense Targets program leverages contracts with industry partners to supply the necessary hardware and support. The procurement strategy includes the use of Firm Fixed Price (FFP) contracts and options to ensure cost control and timely delivery. The program also incorporates Interim Contract Support (ICS) to address evolving requirements and maintain flexibility in response to changing training needs.