CALCM-the untold story of the weapon used to start the Gulf War

The Conventional Air Launched Cruise Missile (CALCM) was developed from the strategic ALCM, AGM-86, by integrating GPS navigation into the missile in place of terrain correlation (TERCOM). In addition, the nuclear warhead was replaced by conventional explosives. The CALCM was developed, tested, and fielded in a single year (mid-1986-mid-1987) by the Boeing Company where the author was then employed. Although the GPS technology used, a Rockwell single channel aided receiver, has been eclipsed by newer receivers with additional capabilities and newer technology, many innovative things were done in completing the CALCM integration: the external loading of almanac data along with other mission data, three satellite navigation capability, and the use of a single channel receiver in a dynamic flight environment. This effort demonstrated that GPS outputs can be integrated quickly into an existing weapon system using the traditional loosely coupled “cascaded filter” approach. Although this approach is not as ideal as a tightly coupled integration using raw GPS data, the use of cascaded filters resulted in a weapon that was able to be rapidly fielded. The Air Force had sufficient confidence in the missile, that after four years of operational testing, 35 of these missiles were targeted at key sites at the start of the Gulf War in 1991. This effort, which was declassified in 1992, resulted in the first weapon in the DoD inventory to be operational using GPS navigation. The effort deserves consideration as a model as to how GPS integration can be performed     

Vehicle health management research for legacy and futureoperational environments

The Air Force will require the ability to diagnose and predict component failures in order to more effectively meet the requirements of the fast and agile Aerospace Expeditionary Force (AEF) and future space vehicles. This paper will cover topics relevant to vehicle health management for current and anticipated support environments. It reflects current projects underway at the Air Force Research Laboratory in the air vehicles and human effectiveness directorates. Specifically, the predictive failures and advanced diagnostics (PFAD) for legacy aircraft, passive aircraft status system (PASS), and the space operations vehicle integrated system (SOVIS) projects will be discussed     

INS/GPS operational concept demonstration (OCD) High Gear program

On February 10, 1993 an Air Force F-16 dropped an INS/GPS modified GBU-15 from an altitude of 35,000 feet and a downrange distance of 88,000 feet in adverse weather. The guided weapon impacted within 6 meters of the target, demonstrating the potential of INS/GPS technology to significantly improve air-to-surface munitions strategies and tactics. This landmark flight was successfully followed by five additional drops with varying attitudes, downrange distances and weather conditions. OCD was designated an Air Force High Gear program, allowing streamlined acquisition and reporting procedures, in response to Operation Desert Storm experience highlighting the need for attacking high-value targets from high altitude in adverse weather. OCD met it's objective to build and demonstrate an INS/GPS weapon in an operationally representative environment. Results of the demonstration show there is low technical risk associated with development of INS/GPS munitions considered for the Joint Direct Attack Munitions (JDAM) program     

Robotic Air Vehicle: A Pilot's Perspective

This paper focuses on concepts and technologies required to develop a robotic air vehicle (RAV). A vehicle of this type has the capability to be a launch and forget weapon system. The authors are engineers and pilots so they view both the technical approach and piloting issues with equal importance. RAV must have the machine intelligence to make decisions within the mission and battlefield constraints. This requires a piloting expert system and route planner to perform passive terrain following, terrain avoidance, obstacle avoidance, and autonomous navigation based on low cost sensor inputs such as a multifunction FLIR, digital terrain map, and directional reference systems. RAV is a cost effective way to fight in a threat environment where aircrew loss rates would be unacceptable. RAV provides the Air Force a means to expand its combat capabilities.     

C-17 successful application of existing automatic test equipment

The C-17 Program utilizes existing B-1B Automatic Test Equipment (ATE). The C-17 decision is in harmony with the Air Force emphasis on reducing proliferation of unique ATE. The ATE selection was made after consideration of cost, performance and supportability tradeoffs. Minimal augmentation of the government inventoried equipment was required which did not affect the existing hardware and software configuration, This approach significantly reduced C-17 program ATE development costs and afforded the program the use of established logistics elements and support structure. The C-17 program demanded concurrency of support structure and aircraft development-the ATE solution met that demand by reducing risks to a manageable level for both test program set development, and Air Force operation and training requirements     

Generic Integrated Maintenance Diagnostics

Maintenance Support for a weapon system involves both preventive and corrective maintenance actions. Preventive maintenance is normally associated with mechanical equipment, and requires prognostic maintenance techniques to predict failures before they occur. Corrective maintenance is more closely associated with electronic equipment, and requires diagnostic maintenance techniques to detect and isolate failures after they occur. To pursue a systems approach to weapon system maintenance using both prognostics and diagnostics, the Air Force has initiated a program entitled, ``Generic Integrated Maintenance Diagnostics (GIMADs)'. This paper provides insight into the GIMADS program at Aeronautical Systems Division.     

Weapons System Open Architecture - a bridge between "embedded" and "off-board"

A demonstration program is described: Weapons System Open Architecture (WSOA) - funded jointly by the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL), DARPA, and the Open Systems Joint Task Force (OSJTF). WSOA provides an open systems "bridge" between legacy embedded mission systems and off-board C3I sources and systems. This "bridge" is used to support Internet-like connectivity between command and attack nodes. The foundation of this bridge is the creation of a Common Object Request Broker Architecture (CORBA) layer over Link 16. In addition, application of quality of service techniques and resource management technologies will ensure the timely exchange and processing of mission critical information by both attack and command nodes in even the most time-sensitive situations.     

基于实战环境的 反舰导弹武器系统作战效能评估

针对导弹武器实战化的作战训练使用需求,结合反舰导弹武器系统的技术特性,在传统ADC评估模型基础上,引入实战战场环境影响因子。分析建立了反舰导弹武器系统效能评估指标体系和改进的ADC评估模型,同时针对导弹武器系统能力构成的复杂性,采用层次分析和集对分析法对评价指标进行综合处理。分析表明,改进模型能够有效地反映实战环境条件下反舰导弹武器系统的综合作战效能,可为开展实战化条件下的训练提供更具实际意义的支撑和帮助。     

E-CATS: First time demonstration of embedded training in a combat aircraft

Air Forces are facing difficulties in training pilots effectively for their missions. Due to a reduction of defense budgets, fewer resources can be made available for training. In addition, airspace available for training is limited, especially in Europe, and this is aggravated by the increase in the range of advanced weapon systems. Moreover, only few Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM) sites are available for suitable training.Embedded Training (ET) is considered to be a potential solution for these problems. ET for fighter aircraft is a capability installed in an operational fighter to train the pilot while operating the aircraft in a situation it was designed for, but which is not available in everyday life. Thereto, the ET capability generates simulated threats and feeds them into the various avionics systems of the aircraft. This allows pilots to train against a virtual force, or a virtually augmented real force. Benefits of employing ET include cost reduction (fewer real aircraft are needed to act as enemy), use of smaller training airspace (simulated threats may move outside this space), and the potential to train anywhere, at any time.NLR, Dutch Space, and the Royal Netherlands Air Force (RNLAF) have jointly developed an ET system to demonstrate the feasibility of current technology for implementing an ET capability in fighter aircraft. The system, installed in an RNLAF F-16B, supports training for ground-to-air and (one-versus-two) air-to-air engagements. It consists of two units; one unit executes the ET simulations and provides most of the required interfaces with aircraft systems, while the other unit is dedicated to interfacing with the radar processing chain.The system was evaluated by demonstrating it to a group of pilots and engineers and collecting their expert opinions. It was concluded that embedded training has considerable value for a variety of training objectives related to Beyond Visual Range tactics, and it is expected that embedded training will play an important role in the future mission training of fighter-aircraft pilots.     

Successful deployment of commercial ATE to an Air Force I-level (back-shop) repair facility

In today's world of constrained budgets, one of the problems the military faces is the challenge of trying to maintain organic maintenance capabilities. Historically, the US Air Force has desired to achieve an autonomous capability to maintain the equipment it uses. This has been achieved, traditionally, by setting-up three levels of maintenance: organizational; intermediate (back-shop); and depot. The I-level back-shops often utilize militarized automatic test equipment (ATE) and test program sets (TPSs) to test today's complex aircraft line replaceable units (LRUs). And even though this is still a cost-effective maintenance philosophy, it has become costly to develop militarized ATE. The Department of Defense (DoD) has been very active in trying to reduce the total ownership cost of ATE in the government inventory. One approach is to utilize commercial, instead of Mil-Spec, ATE. However, utilizing commercial ATE at an USAF back-shop is not without its tradeoffs and challenges as it represents a significant deviation from the way the USAF maintenance squadrons are accustomed to "doing business." This paper documents the current success story of replacing the legacy C-17 I-level ATE with a commercial ATE.     

A maintenance-free lead acid battery for inertial navigationsystems aircraft

Historically, aircraft inertial navigation system (INS) batteries have utilized vented nickel-cadmium batteries for emergency DC power. The United States Navy and Air Force developed separate systems during their respective INS developments. The Navy contracted with Litton industries to produce the LTN-72 and Air Force contracted with Delco to produce the Carousel IV INS for the large cargo and specialty aircraft applications, over the years, a total of eight different battery national stock numbers (NSNs) have entered the stock system along with 75 battery spare part NSNs. The standard hardware acquisition and reliability program is working with the Aircraft Battery Group at Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, Naval Air Systems Command (AIR 536), Wright Laboratory, Battelle Memorial Institute, and Concorde Battery Corporation to produce a standard INS battery. This paper discusses the approach taken to determine whether the battery should be replaced and to select the replacement chemistry. The paper also discusses the battery requirements, aircraft that the battery is compatible with, and status of Navy flight evaluation. Projected savings in avoided maintenance in Navy and Air Force INS systems is projected to be $14.7 million per year with a manpower reduction of 153 maintenance personnel. The new INS battery is compatible with commercially sold INS systems which represents 66% of the systems sold     

US Air Force EarthRadar for detection and discrimination of buriedunexploded ordnance

The US Air Force EarthRadar system is a multi-purpose sensor designed and constructed using "radar" principles. This technology was originally developed for the US Air Force to detect buried unexploded ordnance (UXO). Bakhtar Associates developed the US Air Force EarthRadar technology under the DoD SBIR program. The system is capable of detecting buried metallic and non-metallic objects, including glass vials. In addition, the manner in which system hardware, signal processing, and the integrated high resolution global positioning system (GPS) are configured makes it ideal for applications such as mapping subsurface geological features, locating cavities and collapse features, and identifying contaminated ground     

Electronic technical manual development

In the past, Air Force technical manuals have been stored in libraries containing many volumes of such manuals. This article details the creation and development of an Electronic Technical Manual for the F-16 Analog Test Station Sustainment (FATSS) Project. The manual will allow users to search a single CD-ROM to access data on maintenance, operational procedures, self-test, calibration, schematics, and illustrated parts breakdowns     

GPS III system operations concepts

Over the past three years, the Lockheed Martin GPS III team has analyzed potential operational concepts for the Air Force. The completed tasks support the government's objective of a "realizable and operationally feasible" US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC) concept of operations. This paper provides an overview of the operational improvements for the command and control of satellites, the provision of safe, precise navigation and timing services to end-users. The GPS III system changes existing operational paradigms. Improved operator capabilities are enabled by a new high-speed uplink/downlink and crosslink communication architecture. Continuous connectivity allows operators a "contact one satellite - contact all satellites" concept enabling near-real-time navigation updates and telemetry monitoring. This paper describes potential improvements for the following operations: constellation monitoring, command and control, navigation upload monitoring, global service monitoring, global service prediction, civilian navigation (CNAV) messaging, and anomaly detection and resolution. This paper also describes future operational improvements as GPS applications continue to proliferate and the need for an improved infrastructure to effectively manage all the systems that affect GPS service grows     

飞机保障性

本文简述飞机保障性的重要性,探讨飞机保障性的内涵和实现途径,并介绍一些新的飞机保障性设计方法。按照武器系统保障性的定义,飞机保障性指的是飞机本身的可靠性、维修性、机内自保障能力和飞机的保障分系统保障能力的综合。保障性通过综合保障工程即综合后勤保障而实现。综合保障工程的主要任务是从使用保障的角度来影响飞机本身保障性的设计,包括提出保障性有关要求和保证其实现,以及按飞机设计所导出的使用保障要求来作飞机保障分系统的总体设计和采办。其主要工作是制订维修方案和进行保障性分析,即后勤保障分析。     

舰载直升机远程目标指示系统的误差分析

在目标指示系统的飞行试验中,我们面临如何能在评估其指标符合性的同时,评估目标指示系统的误差对其使用能力的影响问题。为研究目标指示系统精度与使用能力的评判方法,对目标指示误差与武器打击效果的关系进行分析,建立基于水面舰艇当前点攻击和预测点攻击方式下的目标指示系统误差模型,分析不同目标指示方式下的误差分布,将目标指示误差与武器捕获概率的关系转化为目标指示误差与导弹自控终点落入指定区域概率的关系。结果表明:两种攻击方式下的目标指示误差均服从二维正态分布,当目标指示误差增大时,武器捕获概率显著下降,若需保证武器攻击效果,则对应有目标指示误差的下限值,该下限值为舰载直升机远程目指系统飞行试验方法提供了参考。     

AFRL Cryogenic Technology Development Programs

This is an overview of the cryogenic refrigerator and cryogenic integration programs in development and characterization under the Cryogenic Technologies Group, Space Vehicles Directorate of the Air Force Research Laboratory (AFRL). The vision statement for the Air Force Research Laboratory Cryogenic Technologies Group is to support the space community as the center of excellence for developing and transitioning space cryogenic thermal management technologies. The primary customers for the AFRL cryogenic technology development programs are Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO), the USAF SBIRS (space based infrared) Low program office, and DoD space surveillance programs. This describes a variety of Stirling, pulse tube, Reverse Brayton, Joule-Thomson, and Sorption cycle cryocoolers currently under development to meet current and future Air Force and DoD requirements. The AFRL customer single stage cooling requirements at 10 K, 35 K, 60 K, 150 K, and multi-stage cooling requirements at 35/60 K are addressed. In order to meet these various requirements, the AFRL Cryogenic Technologies Group is pursuing various strategic cryocooler and cryogenic integration options. The Air Force Research Laboratory is also developing several advanced cryogenic integration technologies that will result in the reduction in current cryogenic system integration penalties and design time. These technologies include the continued development of the cryogenic systems integration model (CSIM), 60 K, and 100 K thermal storage units and heat pipes, cryogenic straps, thermal switches, and development of an integrated lightweight cryogenic bus (CRYOBUS).     

Near term approach to data relay for satellites under test

The increasing need for a continuous communications link with U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) spacecraft during test missions in low Earth orbit (LEG) has resulted in greater interest in geosynchronous data relay services. This may be a more economical alternative to building additional remote tracking stations for the Air Force Satellite Control Network (AFSCN), and avoids tying up operational assets for a test mission. A low-cost near-term approach for such a space-based data relay system would utilize two existing Defense Satellite Communication System III spacecraft, two existing ground terminals, and a small, standardized terminal using autonomous antenna pointing for the space vehicle under test. Such a system design is presented