Navy League 2026: Collins Aerospace continues to roll out TCTS II air combat training system, eyes new customers

A TCTS II pod shown mounted on the wingtip of a US Navy F/A-18F Super Hornet. (Collins Aerospace)

Collins Aerospace, an RTX company, continues to roll out its Tactical Combat Training System Increment II (TCTS II) for the US Navy and Marine Corps, Kate Gabel, general manager for multi-domain solutions for Collins Aerospace, told Janes on 16 April ahead of the Navy League Sea-Air-Space 2026 exhibition from 20-22 April.

The company is partnered with Leonardo DRS for the programme. Leonardo DRS produces the pods that are mounted on the aircraft, while Collins Aerospace is responsible for all other components, she said.

Secure training

TCTS II is a live, virtual, constructive (LVC) training system that presents a threat environment to the pilot “that is real world to them in the cockpit”, Gabel said.

The system enables “a fully integrated training force at all levels”, providing a built-for-purpose training infrastructure, she said.

TCTS II is “certified with [cryptography] and multilevel security for true live virtual constructive (LVC) air combat training”, according to Gabel.

The integration of cryptography and Multiple Independent Levels of Security (MILS) is meant to ensure “the right data gets to the right folks, but it still gives that holistic picture and doesn't disallow certain levels of data to be part of the common operational picture as part of the training exercise and information [provided] to the pilots”, she explained.

MILS “allows for a joint exercise, coalition, and even domestically, depending on the sensor data and things that you have at different levels”, Gabel added.

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