Digital Air Ground Integration Range (DAGIR)
Features & Highlights
- 23 miles of tank trails, 200 pre-cast concrete targets, six support buildings
- Expedited manufacturing of concrete targets via self-perform work
- Project team overcame challenges of remote location and potential site hazards
Project Overview
The Digital Air-Ground Integration Range (DAGIR) at Fort Bliss Army Post is the U.S. military’s first fully computerized target practice range. Sundt’s contract included constructing 23 miles of tank trails, installing 200 precast concrete targets and building six support buildings. The facility is used to train U.S. soldiers and the armies of several U.S. allies for combat missions on the ground and from the air.
Sundt’s self-perform capabilities for concrete played an instrumental role in achieving the tight schedule by manufacturing all of the concrete blocks for the targets—nearly 11,000 in all. They were cast using an efficient assembly-line approach that boosted productivity rates by more than 30% over what was originally projected, and we earned accolades from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.
The unique range has digitally controlled targets, which allow for the creation of unlimited combat scenarios. Sensors in the targets and vehicles gather information that then becomes part of the review and feedback process. After soldiers complete a simulated mission on the range, they return to the After Action Review (AAR) building to view a recording and debrief with their superiors.
The project’s location posed some challenges. It sits within a large parcel of undeveloped land that was used for target practice leading up to and during World War II. Because of its remote location and relatively open air space, it’s ideal for training missions; however, an unknown amount of live ordinance is still scattered throughout the area. Even though the project site itself was cleared prior to Sundt’s arrival, the situation adds an additional layer of security that had to be accounted for in daily operations.