Cubic system will train Thai AF pilots

Cubic Defense Applications will help develop a new air combat training system for the Royal Thai Air Force under a new contract worth more than $10 million.

Pilots at two Thai air bases will use Cubic's "rangeless" air combat training technology to polish the air combat maneuvering skills.

Cubic will deliver the systems to fighter wings stationed at Korat and Takhli in Central Thailand.

The system's air and ground components use the same technology employed by U.S. Pacific Air Forces pilots at the Misawa and Kadena air bases in Japan.

The technology makes it possible for various Pacific Rim nations to conduct joint instrumented training since the systems are interoperable.

The new system consists of Global Positioning System-based instrumentation pods and ground systems. The system can monitor all maneuvers in real time and provide live feedback to pilots during training. The real-time monitor capabilities allow the training to be viewed at the bases. In addition, the training exercise data is recorded for post-mission debrief and analysis.

The ground systems use Cubic's Individual Combat Aircrew Display System, which allows pilots to monitor, control and debrief their training missions on standard PCs or laptop computers and includes many 2-D, 3-D and alphanumeric views of simulated battles.

Cubic Defense Applications is the defense unit of Cubic Corp. of San Diego. The parent company ranks No. 83 on Washington Technology's 2007 Top 100 list of the largest federal government prime contractors.