The Tactical Combat Training System Increment II (TCTS II) will replicate naval aircraft such as the F/A-18. Source: Mike Mareen/Shutterstock

Collins Aerospace, a Raytheon Technologies business, announced that it has successfully fulfilled the entire rate production contract awarded by the US Navy for the Tactical Combat Training System – Increment II (TCTS II), Air Combat Training System (ACMI).

The recently validated flight tests on F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft demonstrated TCTS II’s advanced long-range, air-to-air, and air-to-ground networking capabilities, enabling real-time data exchanges.

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TCTS II offers a scalable and flexible open architecture system, providing a secure environment for air combat training exercises involving 4th and 5th Generation US aircraft and international aircraft.

One of the key features of TCTS II is its ability to serve as the foundation for next-generation training scenarios, incorporating a combination of live, virtual, and constructive entities.

By replacing the US Navy’s legacy ACMI tracking systems, TCTS II aims to streamline training operations from tactical aircrew unit-level events to force exercise events, regardless of whether they are held at mobile or fixed locations worldwide.

The testing of the system was completed in 2020 and the approval of the systems came in 2021.

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“In our testing, we were able to demonstrate key discriminators of our TCTS II solution, including integration into existing infrastructure, tactical intercepts and real-time mission completion notifications,” said Sapp.

The TCTS II system’s networking capabilities enhance coordination and communication among participating aircraft during training exercises. By facilitating real-time data exchanges, TCTS II enhances situational awareness, responsiveness, and overall effectiveness of air combat training operations.

The successful flight tests conducted on F/A-18 and EA-18G aircraft validate the system’s capabilities and pave the way for its integration into the US Navy’s training infrastructure.

“TCTS II addresses today’s peer threat, enabling aircrews to train and improve joint tactics, techniques and procedures in an NSA-certified secure environment,” said John Sapp, vice president and general manager Integrated Solutions for Collins.

By incorporating live, virtual, and constructive elements, the system enables comprehensive and realistic training scenarios that prepare aircrews for the challenges they may face in actual combat situations.

As the US Navy and international partners look toward the future of air combat training, the TCTS II system stands ready to deliver highly secure, scalable, and flexible solutions that ensure the readiness and effectiveness of aircrews worldwide.

Raytheon Technologies Q1 2023 results showed a 10% sales growth and record backlog, reporting sales of $17.2bn.