REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – A U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command (USASMDC) team helps the Army put a dagger in the heart of missile defense.
USASMDC Technical Center’s Targets Division launched a custom-built Black Dagger target from Fort Wingate, New Mexico, into White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, Aug. 20 during an Integrated Air and Missile Defense Battle Command System, or IBCS, limited user test, or LUT.
The Black Dagger is a two-stage, short-range ballistic missile that is created by mating a Pathfinder Zombie target missile, another USASMDC custom-built target missile, on top of a Terrier MK70 first stage booster. The Black Dagger target provides a longer range target with increased kinematics to represent additional SRBM threats over what the Pathfinder Zombie could do itself.