TACTS - HELICOPTER AIR COMBAT TRAINING SYSTEM OF THE FUTURE

The Navy has developed a Tactical Aircrew Combat Training System for training fixed- and rotary-wing aircrews in live-flight, weapon-simulated air combat. Increasing numbers of helicopter types and associated weapon systems are being integrated into this training system although it was designed primarily for the fixed-wing aircraft. Descriptions of the system hardware and software are presented along with discussions of the various modes of training in air-to-air combat, no-drop weapon simulations, and electronic warfare. Examples of system displays from an actual air combat mission with two helicopters engaging two fixed-wing aircraft are used to demonstrate the capabilities of the system and the many training options available to the aircrews. Possible engineering applications for using the aircraft data recorded by the system are introduced. This paper concludes with a brief outline of future developments underway for increasing the capabilities of the system.