Target tug

Poster for the British target tug Hawker Henley

Swiss DH 100 Vampire target tug, painted in bright warning colors. It is common to paint target tugs in vibrant colors to differentiate them from the targets they tow

Swiss F+W C-3605 towing a target sleeve

A target tug, or target tower, is an aircraft which tows an unmanned drone, a fabric drogue or other kind of target, for the purposes of gun or missile target practice. Target tugs are often conversions of transport and utility aircraft, as well as obsolescent combat types. Some, such as the Miles Martinet, were specially designed for the role. Flying a target tug was, and is, a relatively hazardous job, as live fire is typically employed and the people doing the shooting are usually still in training.