Navy Shifts Gears on Air-Combat Training System.

• Jurisdiction: United States
• Date: 01 November 2001
• Author: Erwin, Sandra I.

Pentagon officials unhappy about the lack of progress in JTCTS program

The Defense Department directed the Navy and the Air Force six years ago to develop a joint training instrumentation system for combat aircraft. The project, called the Joint Tactical Combat Training System, failed to deliver an acceptable product, said Pentagon officials, so the program was canceled and the services are re-evaluating their options.

JTCTS was designed to make flight training more realistic. During exercises, missile-shaped pods that contain high-tech sensors are mounted under the aircraft wings, so they can record and calculate simulated firings of weapons and "kill" messages.

The data can be monitored in real time on ground- or ship-based stations, or can be recorded for after-action review. JTCTS was intended to provide a deployable training system that was nor dependent on dockside facilities, shore-based sites or fixed ranges.

The Navy originally sought this technology for tactical combat training, to replace older Top Gun-type ranges. The goal was to develop a range system that could be used...