Northrop Grumman Launches Black Dagger Target for U.S. Army Missile Defense Test

Black Dagger test demonstrates integration of latest missile defense systems.
  • Defensemirror.com bureau
  • 11:20 AM, December 19, 2024
  • 1354
Northrop Grumman Launches Black Dagger Target for U.S. Army Missile Defense Test
Black Dagger test @NGC

Northrop Grumman recently launched its Black Dagger target vehicle, a variation of the Zombie target series, from Fort Wingate to White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.

The launch supported the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s (USASMDC) LTZ-3 test mission, showcasing the capabilities of Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), the Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor, and the Patriot Advanced Capability-3 systems.

Zombie targets, including Black Dagger, repurpose demilitarized solid rocket motors to simulate adversary tactical ballistic missiles, providing a cost-effective solution for testing missile defense systems. These targets enhance affordability while reducing development time for advanced defense testing programs.

Northrop Grumman, alongside partners Teledyne Brown Engineering and Peraton, Inc., has successfully developed and launched nine Zombie target vehicles under the Tactical Range Air Defense Missile (TACRAM) contract. The program offers six Zombie configurations, including Black Dagger, each designed to emulate specific threat scenarios and ensure precise testing of U.S. missile defense capabilities.

The TACRAM program reduces costs for Army missile defense testing, with the TACRAM 2 contract extending Northrop Grumman’s role in developing and launching Zombie targets through 2028. These efforts align with the U.S. Army’s goals of creating low-cost, threat-representative targets for evaluating integrated air and missile defense systems.

During the Black Dagger demonstration, the IBCS system was a focal point, unifying sensor data into a single actionable picture of the battlespace. IBCS, designed for joint and multi-domain operations, is in production and planned for global deployment, including its integration into the Defense of Guam initiative.

FEATURES/INTERVIEWS
© 2025 DefenseMirror.com - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED