AME Unmanned Air Systems Awarded Navy Contract for the Joint Interoperable Target Control System (Standard Interface for Unmanned Vehicle Control)

POINT MUGU, Calif., July 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The AME Unmanned Air Systems (AME UAS) team announces the receipt of a follow-on contract for the Joint Interoperable Target Control System (JITCS). This contract enables the continued development of standard Target Control System interfaces for the Common Interface Target Control System (CITCS). The contract was received on June 20, 2011, and has a three-year period of performance.  

The JITCS effort will directly support the Target Control Steering Group (TCSG) initiative to promote interoperability of Target Control Systems across all services and target platforms with an open architecture approach. AME UAS will integrate new and emerging technologies into target platform and control systems, as directed by NAWC, to achieve optimum capability and interoperability in integrated unmanned system control.

In December 2009, AME UAS demonstrated the CITCS in a test flight at the NAWC Pt. Mugu Sea Test Range. The CITCS allows a single ground system with a Joint Interoperable Target Control System Standard Interface (JITCSSI) to control single or multiple Navy targets. Since the last BQM-74E flight test, the Navy has implemented the Data Link Interface of JITCSSI on seaborne targets, and the Pioneer UAV target.

The CITCS design also provides a common interface for targets to allow single or multiple target control in a military UHF band, using either a STANAG 4586 data link format or the Joint Interoperable Target Control System Standard Interface (JITCSSI) Data Link Interface (DLI) data link format.

John Chernekoff, AME UAS Program Manager, said, "The Target Control System was demonstrated by successfully operating and controlling a BQM-74E target drone configured with a STANAG 4586 data link. Success was due to close collaboration between NAWC and AME personnel. The JITCS Contract will enable us to continue to expand the capability of this system, apply it to other aircraft, and provide a vehicle for the DOD to save money and time in unmanned aircraft integration."

Interchangeability, common hardware and software, and lower operating costs are all possible with the Joint Interoperable Target Control System. The system includes both the ground-based and airborne elements, and can be used at different test ranges with various targets through the use of standard interfaces, modular software, and quick site-specific software installation.

About AME Unmanned Air Systems

AME Unmanned Air Systems is a ChandlerMay company headquartered in San Luis Obispo, CA, specializing in the design, test, production, and support of unmanned aircraft systems. After designing and producing the US Air Force's first small UAV system, the company has since delivered over 1500 aircraft to U.S. and Allied forces. AME UAS focuses on innovative turnkey solutions that support the Warfighter and meet unique "special" mission requirements. http://www.ameuas.com  

Media Contact:

Steve May
ChandlerMay, Inc.
(256) 319-7230 office
[email protected]  

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SOURCE ChandlerMay, Inc.