What project 238 buys
This Project supports Army readiness and Multi-Domain Operations through the development, acquisition, operation, and modernization of aerial targets. Multi-spectral Aerial Targets include realistic surrogates, actual high-performance threat aircraft, and virtual target computer models. Current and emerging weapons systems require test, evaluation, and training using threat-representative aerial targets to assess weapons system's effectiveness in the operational environment. This project encompasses a portfolio of full-scale, miniature, and subscale fixed-wing/rotary-wing targets, virtual targets, ancillary devices, and associated control systems. For accurate threat portrayal that properly stresses weapons systems during test and evaluation, aerial targets must exhibit flight characteristics, threat signatures, and other performance factors to represent or emulate relevant and validated threats. This Project funds: the long-range planning necessary to determine future target needs and development of coordinated requirements; the management of target research, development, test and evaluation, production, and modernization; execution of the validation process to ensure that aerial targets accurately represent the threat; as well as storage and repair parts. The Army is the Test Enterprise Reliance lead for Rotary Wing Targets and Towed Target development.
Project 238 funding, FY2025–FY2031
Prior years are actuals, the budget year is the request, and the outyears are the FYDP plan. Estimate types are colored and never summed into one figure. Projects carry the full five-year plan; the activities inside them stop at the budget year.
| Fiscal Year | Estimate Type | Amount ($M) |
|---|---|---|
| FY2025 | Actual | 24.0 |
| FY2026 | Enacted | 22.5 |
| FY2027 | Request | 12.7 |
| FY2028 | Outyear | 12.8 |
| FY2029 | Outyear | 12.9 |
| FY2030 | Outyear | 13.1 |
| FY2031 | Outyear | 13.2 |
5 accomplishments / planned programs
The R-2A exhibit — the only level of the budget that describes work that has not happened yet. Activities carry the prior, current and budget year only, no five-year plan. Coverage is partial across the corpus, so count activities, never total them.
FY2027 planned work Continues to provide Army test and experimentation events with group 1-5 threat representative hardware. These test assets include prototyped UAS, modified UAS, or commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) UAS platforms to represent emerging threats. Provides programmatic and engineering support for development efforts and oversight of the Unmanned Aerial System - Target (UAS-T) / Unmanned Aerial System - Counter (UAS-C) fleet.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increases due to economic assumptions.
FY2026 plans — current year Development, technical updates, prototyping, engineering modifications, technology obsolescence, Unmanned Aerial System - Target (UAS-T) / Unmanned Aerial System - Counter (UAS-C) threat hardware, and life cycle management activities for emerging group 1-5 UAS threats. Provides threat representative platforms to support test and experimentation missions. Provides UAS-T and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) UAS platforms to White Sands Missile Range, Yuma, and Threat Systems Management Office Operations teams to support various Army test events. This activity will continue to require technical support for the development, demonstration, and integration of payloads, including technical…
FY2025 accomplishments Technical and life cycle management of Unmanned Aerial System-Target (UAS-T) platforms to operate and maintain a fleet of both tactical class UAS-Ts and commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) UAS. These efforts support a variety of test requirements by providing threat representative UAS aerial targets for test and experimentation missions. Provides UAS-T and COTS UAS platforms to White Sands Missile Range, Yuma, and Threat Systems Management Office Operations teams to support various Army test events. This activity will continue to require technical support for development, demonstration, and integration of payloads, to include technical oversight of the targets' acquisition and ground support…
FY2027 planned work AGATCS logistics and sustainment to include engineering and manufacturing to provide new capabilities and new features for remote control of Multi Domain Operation of aerial [fixed wing, rotary wing, and simulated unmanned aerial systems (SUAS)], ground (heavy, medium, and light vehicles), and seaborne targets with a single control system in support of live fire testing necessary for lethality evaluation and sensor package testing for evaluation of suitability and effectiveness at Army Test and Evaluation Center ranges and for Army customers. Funds development of new aerial target and surface target features and capabilities to include target formations, collision avoidance, and swarming…
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increases due to economic assumptions.
FY2026 plans — current year AGATCS engineering and manufacturing to provide new capabilities and new features for remote control of Multi-Domain Operation of aerial (fixed wing, rotary wing, and simulated unmanned aerial systems), ground (heavy, medium, and light vehicles), and seaborne targets with a single control system in support of live fire testing necessary for lethality evaluation and sensor package testing for evaluation of suitability and effectiveness at Army Test and Evaluation Center ranges and for Army customers. Funds maintenance of compliance with DODI 8510.01 mandate / DoW Risk Management Framework on all target control systems to ensure a secure operating posture. Funds development of surface target…
FY2025 accomplishments Army Ground Aerial Target Control System (AGATCS) engineering and manufacturing to provide new capabilities and new features for remote control of aerial (fixed wing, rotary wing, and simulated unmanned aerial systems), ground (heavy, medium, and light vehicles), and seaborne targets with a single control system in support of live fire testing necessary for lethality evaluation and sensor package testing for evaluation of suitability and effectiveness. Funds maintenance of compliance with DODI 8510.01 mandate / DoD Risk Management Framework on all target control systems to ensure a secure operating posture. Funds development of surface target testing requirements to include convoy…
FY2027 planned work Continues to provide High Speed Aerial Targets (HSAT) in support of Title 10 U.S.C., Section 2366 (Live Fire Test & Evaluation) for the testing of ACAT I/II major munitions, missile programs, or product improvements of these programs. This hardware is adaptable to represent various threat platforms by the addition of payloads and engineering modifications. Provides programmatic and engineering oversight for the HSAT fleet, threat hardware, addresses fleet upgrades, and modifications based on emerging threats.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increases due to economic assumptions.
FY2026 plans — current year The U.S Army Threat Systems Management Office provides Aerial Targets to customers for threat realism required by law in Title 10 U.S.C., Section 2366 (Live Fire Test & Evaluation) for the testing of ACAT I/II major munitions, missile programs, or product improvements of these programs. FY 2026 funding provides engineering support, including non-reoccurring engineering for fleet obsolescence, integration, safety, cyber security, safety and system data documentation, Air Worthiness Release development, targets acquisition, and flight waivers for the entire enterprise, as well as, non-recurring engineering for software/ firmware updates, and minor product upgrades to increase capability…
FY2025 accomplishments The U.S Army Threat Systems Management Office provides Aerial Targets to customers for threat realism required by law in Title 10 U.S.C., Section 2366 (Live Fire Test & Evaluation) for the testing of ACAT I/II major munitions, missile programs, or product improvements of these programs. This line is the technical sustainment of all High Speed Aerial Targets (HSATs). This funding covers the engineering, integration, safety, cyber security, technology obsolescence, safety and system data documentation, Air Worthiness Release development, and flight waivers for the entire enterprise, as well as, non-recurring engineering for software/firmware updates, and minor product upgrades. This includes…
FY2027 planned work Will begin development and integration of the interfaces required to support integration of Threat Modeling and Analysis Program (TMAP) Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC) models. Begin the development of a Pulse Descriptor Word (PDW) translator to be able to ingest TMAP outputs into live aerial RF emitters. Finally, continue the engineering of additional Overarching Dynamic Electronic warfare System Standard Architecture (ODESSA) models that will satisfy key aerial virtual target requirements derived from the classified ATEC POM memos. These models will be used by multiple DoW agencies and multiple weapon systems such as, but not limited to Close Combat Weapon Systems, Strategic…
FY2026 to FY2027 change FY 2026 to FY 2027 funding increase is attributed to integrating Threat Modeling and Analysis Program (TMAP) models obtained from the Missile and Space Intelligence Center (MSIC). These are required to represent validated threat models of specific threat system types.
FY2026 plans — current year Will continue modeling, simulation, and development of aerial threat targets for use throughout Army and Department of War (DoW) simulation environments for evolving Army and DoW simulation standards and evolving implementation techniques; focuses on simulation target models of airplanes, helicopters, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and aerial targets in commonly used formats to support visualization, infrared analysis, and radar analysis simulations; will support verification and validation of models, will provide archiving and distribution of simulation target models to simulation developers throughout the Army and DoW test and evaluation communities. Life cycle maintenance of threat…
FY2025 accomplishments Will continue modeling, simulation, and development of aerial threat targets for use throughout Army and DoD simulation environments for evolving Army and DoD simulation standards and evolving implementation techniques; focuses on simulation target models of airplanes, helicopters, missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, and aerial targets in commonly used formats to support visualization, infrared analysis, and radar analysis simulations; will support verification and validation of models, will provide archiving and distribution of simulation target models to simulation developers throughout the Army and DoD T&E communities. Life cycle maintenance of threat virtual targets will be addressed…
FY2027 planned work Continue EMD for Towed Targets and Ancillary devices, to include development, enhancement, maintenance, and sustainment for towed targets and ancillary devices as needed. Continue development and testing of Low Cost Towed target systems specifically the High Energy Laser (HEL) Tow Target. The Full scale prototype HEL Tow Target will be flight tested in FY2027. Towed targets emulate current threats and provide calibrated radar cross section sources at a very low cost or provide a test platform for testing HEL systems. Tow Target customers include Army Aerostat Program Office, the Center for Countermeasures/ Office of the Secretary of War(CCM/OSW), Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, USAF…
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreases due to economic assumptions.
FY2026 plans — current year Continue Engineering & Manufacturing Development for Towed Targets and Ancillary devices, including development, enhancement, maintenance, and sustainment for towed targets and ancillary devices as needed. Continue development and testing of Low-Cost Towed target systems specifically the High Energy Laser (HEL) Tow Target, and Sphere Tow Targets. These targets emulate current threats or provide calibrated radar cross-section sources at a very low cost to the Army Aerostat Program Office, Center for Countermeasures/Office of the Secretary of War, United States Air Force Three-Dimensional Long-Range Radar and the Office of Naval Research, High Energy Laser Counter Anti-Ship Cruise Missile…
FY2025 accomplishments Continue EMD for Towed Targets and Ancillary devices, to include development, enhancement, maintenance, and sustainment for towed targets and ancillary devices as needed. Continue development and testing of Low Cost Towed target systems specifically the High Energy Laser (HEL) Tow, and Sphere Tow Targets. These targets emulate current threats or provide calibrated radar cross section sources at a very low cost to the Army Directed Energy Program Office, Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office, Army Aerostat Program Office, Center for Countermeasures/ Office of the Secretary of Defense (CCM/OSD), USAF Three Dimensional Long Range Radar and the Navy Enterprise Air Surveillance…