The Evolution Of A Rotorcraft Constructive Simulation Model

The Advanced Tactical Combat Model (ATCOM) is currently the U.S. Army’s Air Maneuver Battle Lab’s (AMBL) model of choice for simulating rotary wing aircraft. The point of view of the model developer is presented on ATCOM’s use in both constructive and distributed exercises. The evolution of ATCOM is traced as it is used on several major programs: Comanche, Unmanned Combat Aerial Rotorcraft (UCAR), and Joint Heavy Lift (JHL). In the 1980s, ATCOM only existed as a Boeing in-house engineering analysis tool. The emerging technologies of helicopters such as Comanche were not modeled by the Army’s suite of simulation tools. Boeing made the decision to upgrade and market ATCOM as the solution to properly simulate all current and future rotary wing aircraft systems. The purpose of this paper is to present a model developer’s point of view of ATCOM as it evolved.