ATS MISSION
To enhance national strategic capabilities through the provision of integrated live fire range systems, immersive training approaches and strategic security solutions.
FROM THE BATTLEFIELD
The ATS lineage began with Kenneth Gillam, a World War II Veteran, who used his battlefield experiences as a soldier to build a prototype Automatic Target Apparatus in 1954. Driven by a desire to better prepare Australian Diggers for the rigours of combat, he demonstrated his invention to the Australian Army, which resulted in a collaborative development effort to further refine the invention under the codename “Austfire”. On the 2nd of September 1959, Australasian Training Aids (ATA) was established and Ken’s invention evolved to become the Disappearing Automatic Retaliatory Target (DART), or favourably termed the “DART Mech”.
GLOBAL TRANSFORMATION
Partnering with electrical contractor and shooting enthusiast, Lindsay Knight, the two men introduced a variety of features, including radio control and automatic marking capability. This partnership resulted in the DART concept being expanded to become a complete live fire training system in 1983. Known initially as the SUPERDART and then eventually the Marksmanship Training Range (MTR), this innovative training system quickly became the backbone of the Australian military live fire training capability.
LIVE FIRE INTEGRATOR
In 2002, the business evolved to become Australian Target Systems (ATS) Pty Ltd. Upholding the same core values, hands-on experience and innovative philosophy espoused by its ATA forebears, ATS further refined combat marksmanship training and became the dominant provider for all infantry, armoured and aircraft live fire ranges for the Australian military. This proven performance resulted in ATS also becoming a Registered Training Organisation (RTO), strategic security specialist and much sort after live fire capability systems integrator for the delivery of some of the largest and most complex military ranges around the world.
MANAGING CONTRACTOR
In 2024, ATS was appointed as the Managing Contractor (MC) by the Capability Acquisition and Sustainment Group (CASG) for the Integrated Land Target Systems (ILTS) program. Acting in the best interests of the end user and the Commonwealth of Australia, ATS now integrates the best of breed live fire target systems available on the market to deliver the most realistic and immersive live fire training environments for Australian soldiers.