Australia’s capability gap in Joint Terminal Attack Controller (JTAC) training could be met with the new Phoenix JTAC Training Solution (PJTS) from company SiNAB Pty Ltd.
Displayed at the Avalon Air Show fitted to the underwing pylon SiNAB Air’s 1967 Cessna 0-2A Test and Evaluation aircraft, the Phoenix JTAC sensor pod has a gimbal in the nose that includes an Electro-Optical Infra-Red camera sensor and a GPS antenna. The Phoenix pod also features a range of in-service voice and data communications capabilities including Link 16.
The pod was developed under a Defence Innovation Hub project to provide a JTAC training capability without requiring an expensive and long process to integrate the capability into specific aircraft.
According to Mark Thoresen, general manager of SiNAB Air, the benefit of using the PJTS is that it does not require any modification to an aircraft as it can be installed using standard 14-inch NATO pylons and operated remotely from the cockpit with the Phoenix tablet-based HMI sensor and communications system.
The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) could employ training aircraft such as Hawk Mk.127 in the JTAC training role by installing Phoenix on the wing and emulating the close air support capability of other RAAF aircraft such as the F/A-18F Super Hornet.
Phoenix has already been tested in Australia on a Learjet 35 aircraft and in the US using ex-RAAF Pilatus PC-9/A aircraft operated by Blue Air Training and has successfully demonstrated the ability to meet all JTAC ISR training requirements, including firing of the laser designator in the Nevada desert. The pod is designed for a flight envelope up to 480kts and -2.5g up to 5g. SiNAB will use their own Cessna 0-2A aircraft for testing and evaluation to further illustrate that the Phoenix pod is compatible with any aircraft that is fitted with pylons.
Thoresen said that using the Cessna 0-2A with Phoenix, SiNAB is able to demonstrate the JTAC training capability and support further development of capabilities based on customer specific needs.
The Phoenix has an internal battery that lasts up to four hours and doesn’t need power from the host aircraft. It also has its own GPS to provide location data to the sensors and includes a mission computer and health monitoring system. It is designed and constructed in four zones: Zone 1 houses the EO/IR cameras including MWIR, SWIR and two EO sensors as well as the laser range finder and designator; Zone 2 houses the mission computer, HUMS and radios, while Zone 4 provides access to secure communications equipment such as BATS-D & HAIPES. Zone 3 in the belly of the pod provides space to add additional capabilities in future configurations.
Phoenix is controlled via the tablet-based interface that connects to the pod via WiFi, and it can also be controlled from the ground using a ground station with range of up to 80km. This feature provides the option for the JTAC instructor on the ground to control the sensors.
Thoresen explained that whilst many companies can provide EO/IR and gimbal systems, in the PJTS SiNAB is uniquely able to offer a solution for encrypted radio for secure voice, imagery and data to the ground and the ability to control the pod from the cockpit or ground.
The RAAF deployed four PC-21 from No.4 Squadron in Exercise Raven Kahu in New Zealand in August 2022 in the JTAC role, but because the PC-21 cannot carry munitions and has no EO/IR or networked radios it is limited in what it can offer in support of JTAC training capability.
Project Air 6016 released an RFI in July 2022 for the service to examine industry proposals for a new JTAC training capability. However, it is likely that the project could be stalled in Australia’s upcoming Defence Strategic Review as the RFI responses from companies included high-end expensive CAS aircraft and the RAAF may be reluctant to spend additional money buying a completely new platform just to host the JTAC training capability.
Furthermore, it would take years to procure new aircraft and fully integrate a JTAC training solution when the RAAF and Australian Army needs the JTAC training capability now. The Phoenix pod could mean that the PC-21 or even a contracted capability could be used as the JTAC training asset in partnership with the Hawk Mk.127 that could be allocated the bomb dropping role using the BDU-33 training munition.
Meanwhile SiNAB has been shortlisted for a Bushfire Commercialisation Grant for the New South Wales state government to demonstrate the viability of the Phoenix Pod for aerial bushfire surveillance.