The Air Force Range Instrumentation System Program Office (RISPO), located at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida, is responsible for developing Air Force Air Combat Training Systems (ACTS). The legacy ACTS data link architecture is tethered to a fixed ground based centralized node. The centralized architecture confines air combat training to specific ACTS instrumented training ranges. However, the legacy ACTS data link is predominantly standardized and its centralized architecture is implemented in ACTS ranges providing interoperability for instrumented aircraft. Within the last five years, the Air Force has fielded two variant ACTS, the Kadena Interim Training System (KITS) and USAFE Interim Training System (URITS). These two systems take advantage of recent data link, GPS, and embedded processor technology to introduce a distributed data link architecture that allows aircraft operation free from a fixed ground-based centralized node, allowing instrumented air combat training to take place in any air space. KITS and URITS are not interoperable with each other or with legacy air combat training ranges. The Air Force fielding of KITS and URITS reduces instrumented training interoperability while increasing the life cycle cost associated with supporting multiple unique ACTS.

This paper discusses range interoperability issues as Air Force ACTS transition from fixed, interoperable, centralized data link architectures to mobile, non-interoperable, distributed data link architectures. It identifies the technology advancements and operational requirements that lead to the distributed data link architecture. This paper also offers possible design solutions that would allow recent distributed type systems to be integrated into legacy ACTS ranges. The author offers upgrade design paths and associated operational capability consistent with a spiral development process. In conclusion, a low-risk, phased approach for integrating KITS and URITS type systems into legacy ACTS ranges is presented.