Our Killer Tomato Target Balloons were features on the Business Insider Website. CLICK HERE to see one of our targets in use on the USS Bataan.

APPF Inc. developed its next-generation of Target balloon/buoy for use in training exercises, man over board drills, and race marker buoys. They were designed to be easy to deploy. Easy to unpack, set up, inflate, launch and recover. The APPF “Killer Tomatoes”® target balloon/buoy (NSN-6920 MK2) features our patented drogue chute that automatically self deploys on launch. Once the drogue chute is filled the weight of the water holds the target upright and reduces the influence of wind helping the target/buoy hold station.

Our patented design includes mounting the technically advanced radar reflector in the “Catch Rain Position” as high as possible within the target balloon/buoy. This results in a stronger radar image than possible with early target balloon/buoy designs. Radar visible at 10 miles* (16.1 km.) in calm sea conditions is typical. The APPF “Killer Tomatoes”® can be recovered using the floating trip line attached to the bottom of the drogue chute to dump water making recovery possible. The inflated target/buoy can be towed short distances at low speeds under 5 knots.

*depending on sea conditioner & RADAR. mast height.