Portfolio of Work

Strategy Development | Capability Development | Capability Management | Capability Evaluation | Training | Exercise Support | Mission Rehearsal | Support to Operations | Experimentation

Strategy Development

Air Combat Capability White Paper

In early 2008 the Government announced its intentions to conduct an Air Combat Capability Review. Working with both the New Air Combat Capability Project Office and RAAF HQ, ATACS teamed with Mr Hugh White to provide an independent Air Combat Capability White Paper to help inform the ACC review. The ACC White Paper has also been used to inform the broader 2008 White Paper process.

National Arms of Power for Effect (NAPES)

ATACS developed and delivered their NAPES model for the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet which provided a sophisticated Effects Based Capability Development framework that rationalises roles and responsibilities across State, Federal and international security agencies in order to synchronise and focus effects.

Capability Development

ADF EW Training Plan

Working under Director General Aerospace Development, ATACS is working on an integrated EW Training Plan for the ADF. Focusing on the spectrum of training media currently available, the EWTP will look to efficiently incorporate emerging EW Training requirements such as those required by the JSF, JASSM and AWD. ATACS' experience in integrating EW Training into major Joint and Combined exercises will ensure a robust plan is developed to leverage the ADF's EW capabilities.

JSF PACRIM C4ISR DSTO Study

ATACS Air Combat Operator Based Services were used during the last 6 months of the C4ISR study to help provide operational context to the significant body of DSTO research. Focusing on dynamic modelling of the JSF C4ISR system, the study will form a baseline for considering future capabilities and their impact on the Air Combat System.

Project Management

ATACS have Project Managed numerous Defence projects, both minor and major and produced all relevant documentation.

Hornet Upgrade Project

ATACS successfully completed the update of F-18 Aircrew Operational Documentation to the Hornet Upgrade Program (HUG) Phase 2.2 configuration. This update spans the F-18 Standard Operating Procedures (SOPS) and Tactical Procedures (TACPROCS), Flight Manual and Command Instructures, and sees incorporation of AIM-132 Advanced Short Range Air to Air Missile (ASRAAM), Joint Helmet Mounted Cueing System (JHMCS), ALE-47 Counter Measure Dispenser System, and the Multi-functional Information Distribution System (MIDS) Tactical Datalink.

Special Tactics Squadron

Utilising its strength in Operator Based Services, ATACS was engaged by Deputy Chief of Air Force to provide strategic advice and stakeholder engagements on the development of the RAAF Special Tactics Squadron. No. 4 Squadron, the RAAF's first special tactics squadron will provide support to Special Operations Command-Australia (SOCOMD-A). The new project will start training personnel immediately, based at RAAF Base 'Williamtown' (Newcastle, NSW), and focus on providing the means to integrate offensive air support (ie: targeting, de-conflicting and controlling air strikes) in parallel with SOCOMD-A activities. Once the Special Tactics capability is proven (Initial Operational Capability is planned for January 2009), it will fuse with the existing Forward Air Control Development Unit (FACDU) to establish 4 Sqn covering the full gamut of Joint Terminal Attack Control for SOCOMD-A. Full Operational Capability is planned for January 2011, and will require the acquisition of new combat-worthy FAC aircraft to replace the existing training-only PC-9/As, previously modified with smoke grenade launchers.

Joint Combined Training Capability

The Joint Combined Training Capability demonstrated its proof of concept during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2007 in July, where Live - Virtual - Constructive forces battled each other in a seamless synthetic environment. ATACS provided critical support to the Project Office including the management of operational requirements for the integration of the Hornet Aircrew Training System (HACTS) and Air Combat Manoeuvering Systems (ACMI) into TS07.

In doing so, the HACTS was able to 'fly-in' to a live Special Force battle, provide virtual close air support to friendly forces, drop virtual weapons which interacted with the Land 134 Live Instrumentation System and recorded hits against instrumented troops and vehicles. Additionally, Live F-18s were able to fly into the same battle, provide Live CAS, drop virtual weapons through the ACMI that interacted with the Land 134 system to similarly record effects against instrumented troops and vehicles. The battles occurred in complex urban environments including the JCTC purpose built Shoalwater Bay Training Area Urban Operations Training Facility (UOTF). Find out more about the JCTC here.

ATACS operator at the SWBTA UOTF during live rotation of USMC personnel.

Project AIR5441 Mobile Electronic Warfare Threat Systems

AIR5441 will see the introduction of high fidelity EW threat simulators for training aircrew and operational commands in EW. Consisting of four mobile emitters, the MEWTES will provide simulated emissions that are representative of real world Surface to Air Missile Systems and radar guided Anti-Aircraft Artillery. ATACS successfully produced all project documentation for a combined first/second pass in under six weeks. ATACS experience delivering EW training services (EWTS) to the ADF permitted the rapid development of the documentation.

ATACS Operator providing High Fidelity Electronic Warfare Training Services utilising Ninox NVG

Capability Management

ATACS manages the US PACAF Joint Deployable EW Range (JDEWR) for major combined exercises including all logistics, spectrum planning, mission planning, aircraft EW load development and mission execution.

ATACS manages numerous Opposition Force capabilities on behalf of the ADF including ADF personnel, target decoys, target replicas, EW emulators and portable EW emitters.

Capability Evaluation

Aircraft Self Protection Systems Project Office

ATACS has managed the live testing of various airborne EW systems utilising various ground threat emitter systems.

Special Tactics Squadron

Teaming with our US partner DCAPS, ATACS was able to embed operators at the tactical level of Exercise Pitch Black 2008 to conduct operational analysis of RAAF STS personnel. This analysis will help inform the RAAF in the development of this critical warfighting capability.

Training

ATACS’ Capabilities in Joint Live/Virtual/Constructive Training

ATACS has been managing the delivery of synthetic training into major Australian Joint and Combined military exercises since the initial inception of the Joint Combined Training Capability in 2006. Over the last three years ATACS has been instrumental to the delivery of Distributed Mission Training to Australian/US combined exercises such as Talisman Sabre 2007/2009. ATACS has also overseen the delivery of Joint Live/Virtual and Constructive (JLVC) training to major single service exercises such as Exercise Swift Eagle 2008 (Army) and Pitch Black 2008 (Air Force).  Prior to the commencement of Pitch Black 2008, ATACS provided pre-exercise JLVC training to the Australian Combined Air and Space Operations Centre which has now been benchmarked as the standard for all CAOC training activities.

To Australian warfighters rehearsing for operations, ATACS has provided management of JLVC contributions to Overwatch Battlegroup Mission Rehearsal Exercises (MRE), Reconstruction Task Force MRE and the more recent Mentoring and Training Reconstruction Task Force MRE’s. Recently, ATACS is providing key JLVC management to Exercise Aces North 2008 and planning for Special Operations Task Force MRE 1/2009.

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Exercise Support

Pitch Black 2008

Exercise Pitch Black 2008 (PB08) was the Royal Australian Air Force’s largest and most complex Air Exercise with participation by Australian Defence Force (ADF) and international personnel. Exercise Pitch Black 2008 was held in the Northern Territory from 06 – 27 June 2008. International participants include the United States, Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, France, Germany, Canada, United Kingdom and NATO. Through the Joint Combined Training Capability (JCTC) within the J7 Training and Experimentation branch of the ADF’s Warfighting Command (Joint Operations Command) ATACS was responsible for Operations Management. PB08 was the culmination of almost 12 months planning by ATACS where personnel were based across four nodes at both the operational and tactical levels of command.

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Aces North 2008

Aces North is a Joint and Combined Air Combat exercise that supports the Australian Fighter Combat Instructor course.

This one month exercise is also a major enabler of Air Combat capability to the ADF through the focussed development of Tactical Procedures to increase collective warfighting capability. Since 2006, ATACS has provided our operator based services to this exercise through our Exercise Support Division.

Services have included Exercise Development, Scenario Development, Execution Management, Umpiring, Electronic Warfare, Ground based Opposition Forces to Special Forces, Joint Live Virtual Constructive Integration, and Joint Weapon Effects.

Talisman Sabre 2007

ATACS provided Exercise Control support, Umpire support, OPFOR management and EW operations management during TS07. With personnel located across numerous Exercise nodes, ATACS was able to deliver unprecedented EW support to the exercise including the first Electronic Warfare exercise over land in Australia. Integrating with the OPFOR Commanders’ intent, ATACS were able to deliver a credible and adaptive OPFOR Integrated Air Defence System consisting of AAA, Low order and High order Surface to Air Missile. Exercising both the Operational and Tactical command levels, the effectiveness of the EW was demonstrated with significant kills claimed against Australian and US aircraft. This in turn led to modified tactics and procedures being developed by coalition forces that have increased their real world warfighting skills.

Joint Combined Training Capability.

The JCTC demonstrated the seamless integration of Live, Virtual and Constructive Forces during Exercise Talisman Sabre 2007 at the High Range Training Area in Townsville. ATACS supported this portion of the exercise with the provision of Air Observer Trainers to manage the air/land operations including Live F-18s, Virtual F-18s, Virtual Spectre Gunships from the US, Virtual A-10 from the US supporting Live and Constructive Ground Forces.

ATACS has provided virtual UAV operators in order to provide high fidelity intelligence to various training audiences.

Mission Rehearsal

Know your mission? Know your environment? Let ATACS work with your team to refine your execution such that fighting is easier than rehearsing.

Support to Operations

ATACS’ Operator Based Services are broad and deep – able to support the warfighter regardless of the area of operations.

Experimentation

DSTO

ATACS has assisted DSTO in the development and execution of various Dynamic Targeting Models for use in the Combined Air and Space Operations Centre. This research will lead to an increased understanding of CAOC processes in order to accelerate the DT decision cycle.