acms airborne communications management system - Saab

ACMS AIRBORNE 

COMMUNICATIONS 

MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

ACMS – Airborne CoMMuniCAtionS MAnAgeMent SySteM 

FOR ALL REQUIREMENTS IN 

ALL TYPES OF AIRCRAFT 

ACMS FUNCTIONAL FEATURES 

integrates peripheral equipment such as radios, 

radio navigation, audio equipment and gSM etc. 

Controls frequencies and operational modes 

of radios and radio navigation equipment. 

Provides the aircraft audio warning 

generator function. 

includes a programmable interCom 

System (iCS) capability. 

ACMS DESIGN FEATURES 

excellent speech intelligibility by use of digital audio. 

Powerful Digital Communications bus (DCb) 

structure for system scalability. 

open system architecture for fl exible and easy 

avionics integration. 

Modular and expandable hardware and software 

architecture to meet the complete range of 

communication management. 

Simplifi ed and reduced aircraft looms due to 

distributed DCb structure. 

Programmable Human-Machine interface (HMi) 

adaptable to user requirements. 

Direct sunlight readable and night Vision goggle 

(nVg) compatible displays. 

System set up through Aircraft Data Loader prior to 

mission for reduced operator workload. 

Multiple redundancy and back-up features. 

Secure communication compliant (teMPeSt). 

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ACMS DESCRIPTION 

ACMS is a highly integrated, civil certifi ed and military qualifi ed Communications Management System. the ACMS 

features Audio Management (including intercom), radio Management and radio navigation equipment Management. 

it provides facilities for the generation, integration and management of aircraft audio warning signals, in the 

form of tones and voice messages. the ACMS can be confi gured for all communication management requirements 

in all types of aircraft, a fl exible and future proof solution. 

The ACMS is a very flexible control and 

display system for the management of 

aircraft communications and radio navigation 

equipment integrating digital audio 

and equipment control facilities. ACMS 

also features full intercom capability. The 

software programmable Human Machine 

Interface (HMI) allows for the customisation 

of systems for different users and 

aircraft. The open architecture of the ACMS 

allows integration of any customer selected 

radio and radio navigation equipment. The 

ACMS can be regarded as a sub-element of 

the core avionics of an aircraft. The ACMS 

can be scaled. Functions in the system are 

under software control and therefore the 

ACMS can satisfy the communications 

requirements of any aircraft type, e.g. heli- 

copters, fighters, light and heavy transport 

aircraft, etc. 

The ACMS can be configured to provide 

secure communications capabilities by 

fulfilling requirements for compromising 

emanation (TEMPEST compliant) and 

separation of secure and general (red and 

black) communication. 

Three building blocks are available, namely 

the General Control Panel (GCP), the Remote 

Control Panel (RCP) and the General 

Interface Unit (GIU). These building blocks 

are interconnected by means of a 2 Mb/s 

dual redundant Digital Communications 

Bus (DCB) in a token ring configuration. 

Systems may be configured using only one 

building block, i.e. the GCP, or all three in a 

comprehensive solution. 

The ACMS can be integrated with an aircraft 

avionics system via standard interfaces. 

This feature allows for further automation 

and therefore reducing pilot workload. 

The capability to control the radios and 

radio navigation equipment from a Multifunction 

Central Display Unit (MCDU) via 

the ACMS is available. 

The ACMS can be programmed with radio 

channel databases (Complans) prior to a 

mission. ACMS health status data, including 

health status data of the peripheral 

equipment connected to it, can be extracted 

from the ACMS after a mission by an Aircraft 

Data Loader (ADL). 

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ACMS BUILDING BLOCKS 

GENERAL CONTROL PANEL (GCP) 

The GCP provides the operator interface 

for both audio management and peripheral 

equipment control and includes: 

• Five software definable rotary switches 

with pushbuttons and a graphics LCD 

display. 

• Microphone and headset audio interfaces 

with audio controls. 

• HMI menus and status display for 

communications management (i.e. 

setting up frequencies and modes of 

the radios and radio navigation equipment). 

A secondary function of the GCP is to act 

as a backup controller for peripheral equipment 

such as radios and radio navigation 

equipment. The GCP may be connected 

to a Multifunction Central Display Unit 

(MCDU) to enhance the HMI capability of 

the cockpit. 

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gCP FeAtureS 

• Voice operated intercom operation (VoX). 

• Alarm tone/Message generators/playback. 

• Audio Digitizing, Mixing, Switching and 

routing. 

• radio and radio navigation equipment 

Control (frequencies and modes, as well as 

Ptt control and management for radios). 

REMOTE CONTROL PANEL (RCP) 

The RCP provides the Operator Interface 

for audio management, headset interfaces 

and radio PTT interfaces. A smaller unit 

with less equipment interfaces compared 

with the GCP. The operator interface 

includes: 

• Five software definable rotary switches 

with pushbuttons and a graphics LCD 

display. 



• HMI menus and status display for 

Communications Management. 

A secondary function of the RCP is to provide 

communications control management 

capabilities (i.e. radio control, radio navigation 

control, PTT management, and warning 

tones/messages playback) via the DCB. 

The RCP is smaller than a GCP (reduced 

unit depth) and can be installed in areas 

where limited space is available. It is suitable 

for use by the pilots in a cockpit due to 

the fact that all communications functions 

controllable from a GCP can be controlled 

from an RCP (via the DCB) as well. 

rCP FeAtureS 

• Voice operated intercom operation (VoX). 



routing. 


Control via the DCb (frequencies and modes, 

as well as Ptt control and management 

for radios etc.). 

GENERAL INTERFACE UNIT (GIU) 

The GIU interconnects peripheral communications 

equipment and provides 

integrated communications management 

capabilities without any operator interface. 

The GIU can be connected to Radios, Air 

Traffic Control Transponders (ATC or IFF), 

Aircraft Information Systems (AIS), Sonar 

Buoy Systems, Global System for Mobile 

communications (GSM) and Radio Navigation 

equipment such as 

VOR/ILS, DME, ADF etc. The GIU also 

provides data bus connections to aircraft 

data busses for avionics system integration 

purposes. (ARINC 429 Busses and/or MIL- 

STD-1553B Busses). 

The GIU is basically a GCP without a bezel. 

It is installed in the equipment bays of 

aircraft, close to the peripheral equipment, 

to reduce loom length and weight. 

giu FeAtureS 



routing. 




Control (frequencies and modes, as well as 

Ptt control and management for radios). 

• Voice operated intercom operation (VoX).


ACMS HUMAN-MACHINE INTERFACE 

The ACMS can be operated from a Multifunction 

Central Display Unit, (MCDU). In 

the event that the MCDU display is selected 

for another subsystem HMI, the GCPs can 

be used to operate the complete communications 

and radio navigation system. From 

the GCPs, the audio as well as the radio and 

radio navigation equipment control can be 

performed (setting up frequencies, modes, 

etc.). In normal operating mode of the 

ACMS, the MCDUs are used as the radio 

and navigation equipment control and 

display HMI and the GCPs are primarily 

used for the audio control and display HMI. 

Should the MCDU fail, the GCPs are used 

to provide the full HMI (audio and equipment 

control) for the ACMS in a back-up 

mode of operation. 

Depending on the type of aircraft a Radio 

Selection Device (RSD) could for example 

be mounted on the control stick as a fourway 

switch. The radios can be selected by 

moving the RSD switch up or down. The 

selected radio is indicated on the MCDU 

and GCP/RCP displays. By moving the 

RSD sideways, the pre-programmed radio 

channels (programmed into the ACMS 

using the Aircraft Data Loader prior to a 

mission) can be selected. The ACMS then 

sets up the selected radio to the selected 

channel (frequency, mode, etc.). The RSD 

thus allows for HOCAS/HOTAS and 

simplifies the operation of the system. The 

radio navigation equipment can be set-up 

automatically from an external navigation 

computer via the external serial interfaces 

to the ACMS (Auto-tune). The GCP/RCPs 

also have a programmable master volume 

control to simplify handling. 

If a mission deviates from the initial plan, 

the ACMS can be fully operated from the 

MCDUs and/or the GCPs/RCPs. 

EXAMPLES OF ACMS HMI DISPLAYS 

MCDU 

radio Management 

System Main HMi Page 

GCP/RCP 

monochrome version 

radio Frequency 

Control Page 

GCP/RCP 

monochrome version 

radio navigation Audio 

Volume Control 

GCP/RCP 

colour version 

(option) 

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TYPICAL ACMS ARCHITECTURES 

SMALL SYSTEM WITH DUAL REDUNDANCY 

LUH SYSTEM WITH GCPs, RCPs AND GIUs 

A - Audio, C - Control, D - Discretes, e - erase, P - Ptt, AWDs - Aircraft Warning Discretes, eLC - external Lighting Control, Ptt - Press to talk, rSD - radio Selection Device 

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ACMS – airborne communications management system 

ACMS SPECIFICATIONS 

GCP Specifications 

ARINC 429 Interfaces 

4 Transmit and 4 Receive ports 

RS485 

4 bi-directional ports 

RS422 


Audio Interfaces 

8 input and 8 output ports 

Discrete Interfaces 

32 programmable bi-directional ports 

DCB Interface 

Dual Redundant Bus (2.048 Mb/s – based on ITU G703/4) 

MIL-STD-1553B Bus 

Bus Controller or Remote Terminal 

Analogue Interfaces 

Four 16 bit analogue-to-digital ports 

Display 

192 x 64 pixel monochrome graphics display 

NVG Compatibility 

MIL-STD-3009 

Power Consumption 

25 W at 28 VDC 

Mass 

1.9 Kg 

Size 

85 mm x 146 mm x 170 mm 

Operating Temperature: -40 °C to +70 °C 

RCP Specifications 





DCB Interface 

Dual Redundant Bus (2.048 Mb/s, ITU G703/4) 


Two 16 bit analogue-to-digital ports 

Display 

192 x 64 pixel monochrome graphics display 

NVG Compatibility 

MIL-STD-3009 



Mass 

1.5 Kg 

Size 

85 mm x 146 mm x 100 mm 

Operating Temperature -40 °C to +70 °C 

GIU Specifications 

ARINC 429 Interfaces 

4 Transmit and 4 Receive ports 

RS485 


RS422 






DCB Interface 

Dual Redundant Bus (2.048 Mb/s - ITU G703/4) 

MIL-STD-1553B Bus Bus Controller or Remote Terminal 


Four 16 bit analogue-to-digital, ports 



Mass 

1.5 Kg 

Size 

85 mm x 146 mm x 160 mm 

Operating Temperature: -40 °C to +70 °C 

Qualification Standards 

Qualification 

MIL-STD-810E, MIL-STD-461E, RTCA DO-160E, RTCA/DO-178B

www.saabgroup.com 

Doc. id: B-300009 - Eng. - Ver 1. - October 2009

acms airborne communications management system - Saab

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