In this article i will go over the ACMI equipment used on the Nellis Ranges during Red and Green Flag.
ACMI equipment involved are state of the art sensors that make the ground controllers of the air war 'see' the picture of what is actually happening in 'real' time. In other words, as the action in the skies is unfolding...the ground controllers are seeing every bit of what the pilots do, their locations, strikes and air-air combat.

The AIS Pod and Downlink systems:

The AIS pod is a vital piece of equipment of which allows the ground controllers and commanders see what is happening. It is this bit of kit that is the most important and is the vital downlink/uplink that shows the overall air picture.

At the moment, until all ACMI ranges are equipped with Global Positioning Systems(GPS), all ranges , including the Nellis Range operate in the same pretty basic way.
Each aircraft that is actually participating in the Red or Green Flag are equipped with an AIS pod. AIS or Airborne Instrumentation Sub-system is the link between the controllers at Nellis AFB and the individual aircraft carrying the pod. Each pod is extremely advanced and carries a number of sensors. Each sensor provides data for the controller and debrief system back at Nellis for most of what is happening with that aircraft. Each Pod also lets the control post generate an extremely accurate (within 15ft) picture of the aircraft over the range and acts as a fly on a wall or if needed, a back seat virtual pilot.

Sensors on the pod include:

Inertial Navigation System(INS):
This is equiped with a radio/radar altimeter for ultra accurate altitude measurement at low level over rough terrain. It also has its own Pitot tube to measure Speed, height and other various measurements.

Transponder:
This is located inside the body of the AIS pod and receives radio signals from the various ground stations around the ranges. It receives the signals then re-transmits them, together with the Pods collection of data that include the Height, speed and attitude of the aircraft back to the Ground Stations to the controllers and debrief system.
Then...the time that the signal is transmitted to the Pod and the time it takes to re-transmit back to the ground station is measured and it is this that the ground control now can get a very accurate triangulation fix on the aircrafts precise location...accurate to 15ft or less for most ACMI range equipment.
The timing and location measurement is undertaken by a smart system called the Tracking Instrumentation Sub-system or TIS.

All this data is collected at the Control and Computation System (CCS) which decodes the numbers collected. It is here that it sends the data to the control room which gives the controllers and commanders every type of vital thing they need to see for the air-war for each individual aircraft...possibly upto 40 aircraft at a time.

Each pod, after linking with the CCS gives out the following:
Speed, Height, Attitude, G-Forces being pulled (G's), Ascent Rates, Descent Rates, Turn rats, Yaw rates, Roll Rates, Engine power, Missile cue, Rocket cue, Gun cue, Bomb Cue
Plus Weapons release points which also shows the controller the range, trail, heading etc of each weapon such as an air-air kill with a missile.
Successful Kills, Unsuccessful kills, Whether or not the pilot has been shot down(of which he then immediately Returns to Base(RTB) which is called 'kill removal', Etc.

Each pod has located inside it:
Air Data sensor with Pitot Tube, Radar or Radio altimeter, Dipole Antenna for UHF, Signal conditioner, Transponder, Power supply, Digital Processing unit, Inertial Sensor Assembly, Digital Interface

From the CCS the data is linked into the Display and Debrief System(DDS). This is the main debriefing system and is also where the picture is controlled from.
From here controllers can virtually sit in the cockpit of the aircraft and see what the pilot is seeing and doing but this is limited and is called the Simplified Head Up Display(SHUD).
Each aircraft is allocated a number which is also the number of the pod so controllers can identify them. The SHUD shows controllers and the debriefing how the pilot was reacting attitde wise to the war...and each route is plotted using a line system. In the SHUD controllers can also see other aircraft, Red or Orange for the Opposing Red Forces and Blue for the friendly Blue Forces. Each missile away is shown by a trail made by the Computers and so the controlers can visually see the missile but virtually.

Each ACMI range, including the Nellis Ranges have various Sub-Control towers located around the perimeter of the particular range and one master tower in the center or where possible. Each sub tower relays signals to the master tower and shows whether the aircraft have strayed off the range or out of the designated area. With the case of Red Flag and Green Flag the ranges are huge. The Master tower then communicates directly with the CCS via UHF or sometimes Microwave.

Threats and Simulators:

Aswell as the ACMI instruments the ranges around Nevada have extremely realistic Threat Simulators. Each simulator simulates a particular weapon system such as an Early Warning Radar Site, SAM sites, and AAA sites. Each site can either be a real threat using Russian made equipment or it is American made but using the Bands and wave lengths of the Russian systems.
The simulated threats are extremely realistic, with Simulated SAM launchers being made by systems called 'smokey SAMs'. Smokey SAMs are a launch platform with a rocket that produces a smoke trail like a Real SAM...it is fired at the incoming attacking aircraft. Unfortunately threat simulators cannot reproduce the AAA fire with tracers...that is very difficult!

Aswell as the Threats, targets include the following:

Convoys of armoured vehicles with one over 15 miles long incorporating every type of vehicle the allies would come across located on the northern 70 numbered ranges.
Airfields such as the 'korean airfield' located at Tolicha Peak Electronic Combat Range which has various mothballed aircraft used for live and practice attack using guns, rockets and bombs.
Industrial complexes which includes a large mini-town incorporating factories and high value targets.
Bunkers which include heavy, medium and light bunkers.
Trains which includes a fully mobile train on an extensive network of fully working rail track(railroad) for use in strafing and bombing.

Each attack or run-in is viewed by very advanced range cameras that track each aircraft and shows detailed video and still photos of the release of weapon, descent and impact and shows at the later Debriefing at Nellis how accurate the pilot was, if it exploded, tactics to improve or if he got shot down during the attack(of which the AIS pod would of picked up).

All envelopes, tactics, shoot downs, ground kills, ACM etc are recorded and the pilot can view his mistakes or victories when he lands.