CIBOLA COUNTY — A missile test is scheduled to take place later this month near Fort Wingate, prompting the U.S. Forest Service to issue yet another temporary closure of public lands in the Mount Taylor Ranger District.
The closure, which includes a substantial portion of forest roads, trails, and access areas near Six Mile Canyon, will be in effect in two separate windows: May 19 through May 22, and again May 27 through May 29. According to Forest Order 03-03-02-25-06, the restrictions are necessary to protect public safety as the U.S. Army prepares and executes a missile launch from Fort Wingate Army Depot.
The test is part of a surge of missile defense trials that have intensified in recent years as global security challenges mount. Fort Wingate, located just 53 miles west of Grants, has increasingly become a vital proving ground for the U.S. military's next-generation missile defense capabilities. The base, which completed its original military mission in 1993, has seen a resurgence of activity with a growing slate of launches tied to cutting-edge weapons systems.
Among them have been the Army’s Black Dagger and Zombie target missile programs, designed to simulate adversarial threats and allow U.S. forces to test detection, tracking and intercept capabilities in a real-world environment. These targets help validate key components of the Army’s evolving air and missile defense architecture, including the Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), Lower Tier Air and Missile Defense Sensor (LTAMDS) radar, and Patriot Advanced Capability-3 (PAC-3) missiles.
The pace has quickened in recent months.
In December, the Army conducted a Precision Strike Missile Limited User Test, the first soldier-led trial involving a High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) launcher. That missile, fired from Fort Wingate, flew across the skies of Cibola County en route to Yucca Point in White Sands Missile Range. The test represented a major milestone for the Army’s long-range precision fires modernization program.
'This approach not only validates the system’s performance but also sets a precedent for future soldier-centered testing initiatives,' said Sgt. 1st Class Maggie Vega, the test officer who helped coordinate the PrSM test.
A Historic and Strategic Site
Fort Wingate’s modern importance is deeply tied to its unique history. The land surrounding the base has long held cultural and strategic value; it was once part of the aboriginal territories of the Navajo Nation and Pueblo of Zuni, and its military use dates back to 1860.
The base underwent various incarnations, from serving as a fort during the Indian Wars, to becoming one of the largest U.S. Army explosives depots during World War II.
It was also at Fort Wingate in 1942 where the first Navajo Code Talkers were sworn into the U.S. Marine Corps before deploying to the Pacific Theater. These men would go on to play a crucial role in the war effort by developing an unbreakable code based on their native language, which was vital for secure battlefield communications.
By the 1960s, Fort Wingate was again at the cutting edge of military technology, serving as a missile launch site during Cold War testing programs. Although officially deactivated in 1993, the depot's location — with safe downrange access to White Sands Missile Range — has kept it relevant in the missile defense world.
Today, its modern mission is no less consequential. As missile threats continue to evolve globally, Fort Wingate has reemerged as an indispensable location for the Army to push the limits of defensive technologies. From legacy weapons systems repurposed for target vehicles to state-ofthe- art command and control systems, the work being done here connects directly to national and allied security.
Public Access Temporarily Restricted
During the upcoming closures, access to public lands south of I-40 in the Wingate area will be strictly limited. Roads, trails, and recreational areas within the outlined closure zone, including popular routes near Six Mile Canyon, will be offlimits to all but authorized personnel.
The U.S. Forest Service urges residents and visitors to abide by the restrictions. Violators face potential fines and jail time under federal regulations.
For more information about the closure, residents can contact the Mount Taylor Ranger District at (505) 2878833. Updates will also be posted online at the Cibola National Forest and National Grasslands website. Additional information about the ongoing missile defense testing program is available from White Sands Missile Range Public Affairs at (575) 678-1134.
As another test window approaches, the skies above Cibola County will once again serve as both proving ground and symbol — where the echoes of Fort Wingate’s storied past meet the cutting-edge challenges of today’s global battlefield.