CHAPTER 8 TARGETS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT Aerial targets and associated equipment are used in gunnery, rocketry and for missile practice by ships and shore installations. They are also used in air-to-air firing exercises. Firing at targets that simulate moving aircraft improves the battle efficiency of the Navy and provides useful information for evaluating armament control/weapons systems under development for operational use by the fleet. Target  systems  are  divided  into  three  categories: aerial  targets,  land  targets,  and  tow  target  systems. Table  8-1  depicts  a  matrix  of  targets  by  category  and type. In the following paragraphs we will discuss aerial targets and tow target systems. Tow target systems are divided into two subsystems: aerial tow reeling machine and launchers and  aerial  tow.  Both  systems  are  discussed  in  the following text. TOWED TARGETS, SYSTEMS, AND EQUIPMENT LEARNING   OBJECTIVE:   Identify towing systems and associated equipment to include external gunnery tow systems, tow target reeling machine-launcher systems, and tow cables and associated equipment. Describe the operating theory of the external gunnery tow system. There are two basic classes of tow targets—textile and  rigid  tow  targets.  Textile  tow  targets  are  flexible targets woven from a synthetic fiber, such as nylon. Rigid tow targets are made of a rigid material, such as   fiberglass.   They   are   shaped   and   constructed   to prevent drag and withstand severe air loads when towed at  high  speeds.  This  type  of  target  is  normally  finned stabilized. All rigid targets provide an auxiliary aid for the radar fire control system in the attacking aircraft. 8-1 Target Aerial Target Land Target Tow Target Systems Subscale Full Scale Aerial Tow Reeling Machine Aerial Tow BQM-34A/S X BQM-34E/T X BQM-74C/E X AQM-37C X RMK-19/A47U-3 X RMK-31/A47U-4 X RMK-34/A47U-4/A X RM-1 X TDU-32A/B X TDU-34A/A X Table 8-1.—Target Categories and Types