TEXTILE TOW TARGETS

TEXTILE TOW TARGETS The TDU-32A/B and TDU-32B/B aerial banner tow targets (fig. 8-1) are effective low-cost devices for air-to-air and surface-to-air gunnery training. They are constructed of nylon fabric and are rectangular in shape. The TDU-32B/B is laser retroflective, while the TDU-32A/B is radar reflective. The TDU-32A/B and TDU-32B/B banner tow targets have a weighted steel tow bar and bridle assembly attached to the rectangular fabric panel. There is a 60-foot safety nylon webbing bridle attached between the tow bar and tow cable. Both nonradar- and radar-reflective panels are 7 1/2 feet by 40 feet. For visual tracking, the panels have a 12-inch orange border and a 48-inch orange bull’s eye centered on the white portion The targets, attached approximately 1,800 feet behind the tow aircraft, are launched from the runway by standard drag takeoff procedures. Target recovery is accomplished by dropping the target in a recovery area following the mission. RIGID TOW TARGET A rigid target is specially designed to simulate high-speed aircraft in speed and maneuverability. It can be towed by jet aircraft at speeds within the attacking range of jet fighters. The target is aerodynamically designed to reduce drag and limit the performance of the tow plane as little as possible. A rigid target can be used for air-to-air and surface-to-air gunnery and guided missile training. The TDU-34/A aerial tow target (fig. 8-2) is a training device that will replace other tow targets now in use, with the exception of the banner targets discussed in this chapter. Its primary purpose is for air-to-air and surface-to-air missile and gunnery training. The TDU-34/A is a passive radar target. It can be adapted to carry other payloads internally. It consists of a reinforced aluminum tube body, four aluminum fins, a steel towline adapter, and radar-reflective nose and tail sections. The nose is a thin, fiber glass shell with four aluminum corner reflectors and a lead ballast weight bonded inside. The tail section is a short ABS plastic tube with a single aluminum comer reflector riveted inside. The dimensions and weight of the target are shown in figure 8-2. The TDU-34/A can be towed by any aircraft capable of using the A/A47U-3 or A/A47U-4 reeling machine-launcher systems. REVIEW NUMBER 1 Q1. What are the two basic classes of tow targets? Q2. Textile targets are made of __________________. Q3. What type of target is an auxiliary aid for the radar fire control system in the attacking aircraft? Q4. List the textile targets that are effective low-cost devices for air-to-air and surface-to-air gunnery training. Figure 8-1.—Characteristics of the TDU-32A/B and TDU-32B/B aerial banner tow target. 8-2