Cubic Defense Systems has secured a contract to supply additional rangeless air combat training system (ACTS) equipment to the Japan Air Self Defense Forces (JASDF).
The ACTS supplied under the $12m contract is primarily used to train fighter pilots in air-to-air and air-to-ground combat tactics, and forms part of the Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) system delivered by the company to JASDF in November 2007.
Featuring aircraft-mounted instrumentation pods and ground-based subsystems, the system uses the latest-generation GPS technology to provide real-time feedback to pilots during training missions, and is also capable of recording information during the mission that can be replayed for the aircrew post-mission for additional training value.
The pods collect aircraft data during the mission and deliver real-time notifications to the cockpit through audible tones, whereas the ground subsystems provide real-time display and post-mission debriefing using Cubic’s individual combat aircrew display system (ICADS) software.
Considered as the Asia-Pacific standard for ACMI training, ACTS currently supports multiple annual and semi-annual multinational exercises worldwide, such as Red Flag Alaska in US, Exercise Pitch Black and Talisman Sabre in Australia, Max Thunder in South Korea, Cobra Gold in Thailand and Commando Sling in Singapore.
Operational at Komatsu Air Base in central Japan, the ACMI system also features a PC-based debrief software that facilitates training without a fixed infrastructure, and is fully interoperable with the Cubic Kadena Instrumented Training System (KITS) systems, which are currently used by the US pilots at Misawa and Kadena air bases in Japan, and Osan and Kunsan air bases in South Korea.
Additional contract details, including number of systems ordered and delivery schedule remain undisclosed.