Cubic Defense Systems Demonstrates Air Combat Training System Interoperability At Singapore Training Exercise.

SAN DIEGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 17, 1999--Cubic Defense Systems, the pioneer and leader in the development of air combat training systems, achieved a technical breakthrough recently when it merged data from dissimilar air combat training systems into a post-mission debrief for "Commando Sling," a joint training exercise between the U.S. Air Force and the Republic of Singapore Air Force (RSAF).

"What this means is that we established interoperability for our KITS (Kadena Instrumented Training System) with another system," said Keith Shean, KITS program manager. "This is a long sought-after goal that considerably expands training opportunities for military customers throughout the world.

"For more than 20 years, industry and the military services have listed interoperability between air training ranges as an essential capability. With advanced technology that has produced 'rangeless' air training systems that do not require a fixed ground infrastructure and are highly transportable for use on deployments, the need for interoperability to support deployed training is even more acute," Shean explained.

"The marriage of two air combat training systems for joint exercises was achieved by integrating the KITS with the RSAF system in Singapore," Shean said. The work was performed in just under three months under a contract between Cubic and the USAF.

The project was a joint effort between the 497th Combat Training Squadron (USAF in Singapore), Cubic and iTS (RSAF contractor).

The Cubic integration solution for Commando Sling was to provide necessary hardware and software to integrate KITS data with RSAF Air Combat Maneuvering Instrumentation (ACMI) post-mission data, Shean explained. It consists of a laptop computer, docking station, 4-millimeter tape drive, recorder drive for data cartridges and software necessary to integrate the data transfer between systems. A filtering process eliminates all sensitive aircraft data, leaving only the KITS-derived Time-Space-Position-Information (TSPI). The 4-millimeter tape is the transfer medium between KITS and RSAF (ACMI). Either the KITS display equipment or the RSAF ACMI can be used to debrief USAF and RSAF pilots.

Because both the USAF and RSAF have individual classification requirements, Cubic developed software that provides a user interface to ensure that only unclassified data is available. The data is transported between the two systems in the Distributed Interactive Simulation (DIS) format.

Col. Phillip J. Mixon, commander of the 497th Combat Training Squadron, said, "ACMI integration with the RSAF provides a superb tool for maximizing the training value for each and every Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT) sortie...these missions are the bread and butter of Commando Sling exercises. Although every pilot does a great job on post-mission reconstruction using currently available tools, such as HUD, radar tape and memory, exact mission reconstruction is not always possible. This system gives us the opportunity for near-perfect mission analysis."

Lt. Col. "Shack" Bochain, 497th CTS director of operations, said, "The availability of this integrated post-mission playback is a home run for determining the mission effectiveness and lessons learned from our DACT missions. Geographic separation from some of the RSAF fighter squadrons we train with led to logistical difficulties in providing deployed USAF units a comprehensive tool for accurate post-mission analysis. This system provides that solution, saves time in reconstruction, and allows us to spend more time looking at the nuts and bolts of tactical execution."

According to Billy Smith, Training Range section chief for Pacific Air Force headquarters at Hickam Air Force Base, Hawaii, the integration was a great success. "This capability represents a viable solution for future air combat training with other Pacific Rim allies," he said.

The after-action report from the integration effort concluded the following: "Aircrew debriefing capability between USAF and RSAF aircrews significantly improves training opportunities at Commando Sling in Singapore. It establishes a viable baseline for training with other Pacific Rim allies."

Cubic developed KITS under contract to the U.S. Air Force. It is the U.S. military's first rangeless air combat training system and it is operational with the 18th Air Wing at Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, and the Michigan National Guard Combat Readiness Training Center at Alpena, Mich. KITS is based on Cubic's Air Combat Training -- Rangeless, or ACT-R technology, a technology that has revolutionized air combat training.