TACTS/ACMI
ROCAF installed its Tactical Aircrew Combat training System/Air Combat
Maneuvering Instrumentation (TACTS/ACMI) training range at Taitung
(Chihhang) AFB in July 1988, with assistance from the United States.
This system used multilateration ground position techniques to calculate
Time-Space-Position Information (TSPI) of the aircraft.
This technique requires multiple instrumented sites to be in line-of-sight
with the aircraft at all times.
Such a system is thus termed "tethered".
The airborne segment of ROCAF TACTS/ACMI system consisted of 27
Airborne Instrumentation Subsystem (AIS) pods,
which could transmit essential aircraft data to ground instrumented sites.
With this system, the accuracy of the calculated position is dependent on
the relative position of the aircraft and the instumented sites, of
which a minimum of 3 are required at all times to track the participants.
The size of the effective training range airspace is limited by the number
and placement of ground instrumented sites.
Hence, the training airspace was restricted to off the coast of Taitung.
As China introduced advanced fighters, such as the Su-27, the system has
become since obsolete.
In mid 1990s, ROCAF decided to upgrade the system to expand training range
airspace.
GAP
In April 1999, the U.S. Air Force awarded San Diego-based Cubic
Corporation a $28 million FMS contract to provide an upgraded for the
tethered TACTS/ACMI system.
The GPS ACMI Program (GAP), as the program is called, includes 24 AIS pods,
six sets of display and debriefing equipment, and other subsystems.
Cubic delivered the Taiwan GAP in December 2000.
ROCAF confirmed completion of the installation in July 2002.
Using GPS technology, the new "rangeless" system allows pilots
to train in any available airspace without reliance on a tethered range.
The system is based on the Nellis Air Combat Training System (NACTS)
at Nellis AFB, which supports up to 100 high-activity aircraft and
up to 100 simultaneous weapon simulations in a single training exercise.
Taiwan's system supports pilot training in the F-5, F-16, and IDF.
In April 2002, the U.S. Air Force awarded Cubic Corporation another
$6 million contract to provide upgrades to the Taiwan GAP.
The software and hardware upgrades will increase the range's air coverage
for real-time missions and improve the training capability of the existing ACMI system.
The enhancements include the addition of two
remote sites, new weapon simulations, and changes that will allow ROCAF
to maintain training capability despite cellular telephone
interference.
Work is scheduled to be completed in March 2004.
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