Welcome to Air Target Services
Air Target Services Pty Ltd (ATS) provide specialised operational, technical and support services to the Defence Forces of Australia, New Zealand and South East Asia.
ATS is a wholly Australian owned and operated Company and commenced aerial tow target operations in 1985 for the ADF with full operational and support services accepted into service in 1986.
Over 6,000 tow target flights have been conducted to-date. In addition to its aerial tow target operations, ATS also specialise in the operation of Unmanned Aerial Target (UAT) systems and can provide a complete turn key service to its Defence customers.
Services
Air Target Services operates from the Aviation Technology Park in Nowra alongside HMAS Albatross and is involved with:-
- Repair, overhaul and operation of the MTR-101 Target Reeling Machines.
- Operation, repair and maintenance of the complete range of Meggitt and Air Affairs Australia aerial towed targets for surface to air and air to air weapons tracking and firing practices.
- Operation and support of the Phoenix Unmanned Aerial Target system and other UAT’s at various Defence ranges throughout Australia.
- Maintenance & Repair of ground support equipment for all aerial targets and subsystems.
- Operation of Radar, Acoustic, both scalar or sector Miss Distance Indicator scoring equipment.
- Providing complete training for flight operations, ground support and maintenance of aircraft, target and towing systems and UAT’s.
- Modification and interface to target towing aircraft.
- Maintaining a CASA approved facility and is part of the Defence Industry Security Program.
Experience
The following summarises ATS’s experience:-
- Introduction into Australia of the MTR-101 Reeling Machine.
- Development of flight Operations Procedures.
- Development of a Target Operator Check and Training Program.
- Implementation of Quality Assurance to AS/NZS ISO9001/2015.
- Development of Tow Cable Management Procedures.
- Introduction into service and development of airborne miss distance scoring systems.
- Development of Target enhancement devices including Radar, Visual and I/R.
- Introduction of Low Level Height Keeping (LLHK) target systems and development of flight profiles.
- Introduction of UAT exercises to the ADF using the Phoenix and other target drones.
- Development of rapid deployment capability with positioning of support equipment and operation of remote base facilities for targets and UAT systems.
- Development, design, operation and support of specialised GSE.
