Digital Electronics Where We are and Where We are Going

The paper synopsizes the current situation with regard to the nature of the red as well as the blue-grey forces as their capabilities impact future avionics systems. The paper describes today's climate as it relates to the avionics posture of the current and future fighter air forces, congressional desires and budgetary direction. The paper describes the current US Air Force response in the terms of modular systems. The benefits of modular avionics systems are delineated and the impact of software on this new hardware approach are explained. The way to the future is postulated in terms of the threat versus force posturing and the impact on both today's and future weapons systems. The paper concludes with several recommendations which, while they will somewhat alter traditional industrial relationships, will also address the future avionics needs of the US Armed Force.     

Benefits and challenges of Integrated Sensor Systems

Projection of avionics system costs shows unacceptable escalation as a percentage of flyaway cost. Time sharing of RF modules between Radar, EW and CNI offers savings. The Air Forces' PAVE PACE program defined the benefits and initial architecture approaches. From this, an optimum Integrated Sensor System (ISS) design was defined that reduces the life cycle cost of the fleet of vehicles using the common modules. The ISS program will design, build and test modules to prove the approach. Challenges to overcome include system complexity, real time control, test and calibration, and diagnostics. The most stressing requirements were determined by analyzing requirements for Radar, EW and CNI. Open interface specifications and module partitioning were developed that can meet all the requirements     

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     

Modular ICNIA Packaging Technology

Significant size, weight, power and reliability improvements can be achieved in next generation avionics by the modular integration of similar functions into a fault tolerant reconfigurable architecture. The Integrated Communication Navigation Identification Avionics program (ICNIA), and ITT/TI Joint Venture, is accomplishing this task with a combination of modular circuit designs using VHSIC technology, improved packaging designs incorporating surface mount component technology and a modular two-level maintenance support concept for reduced life cycle cost. This article will concentrate on the modular packaging technology of the digital processor subsystem.     

Digital Avionics?The Best is yet to Come!!!

This paper reviews some of the history and background of digital avionics and offers some tantalizing possibilities for the future. There are payoffs in many areas from digital avionics; however, the ultimate benefits are increased mission effectiveness and lower costs. Two major U. S. Air Force avionics programs designed to increase mission effectiveness are reviewed. Major barriers to the expanded use of digital avionics in civil transports as a means to lower operating costs are examined. The paper also examines lightning effects, architectures, optical components, displays, and voice interactive control which are current research areas that promise to yield significant advances for digital avionics systems. Finally, in a notice of optimism, it is concluded that the best is yet to come. As good as contemporary avionics are, we have only begun to visualize their ultimate potential.     

Military Products From Commercial Lines

“Military Products From Commercial Lines” is a pilot program within the Air Force Manufacturing Technology Directorate's Industrial Base Pilots Office. TRW's Avionics and Surveillance Group (ASG) is leading the program. This pilot program will demonstrate commercial-military integration by producing F-22 military avionics modules on an automotive electronics production line operated by TRW's Automotive Electronics Group (AEG). To accomplish this requires a redesign of the modules so that they are producible using commercial automotive electronics processes. Dual use manufacturing also dictates establishing compatible business practices, manufacturing infrastructures and process technologies. Business practices that must be changed involve accounting procedures, contracting requirements, audit requirements and quality control. Manufacturing infrastructure improvements include incorporation of advanced concurrent engineering tools and process control software to allow economic production of small lot sizes. Process technology changes involve designing for production lines that are highly automated and compatibility with commercial practices     

Programs in higher levels of information fusion [USAF applications]

The US Air Force future vision for information fusion is presented in the context of results of a study of long-term challenges in the science and technology of command and control and the programs of the Air Force designed to meet them. A new approach to research is presented that takes advantage of scientific challenge problems that are operationally validated in collaboration with research laboratories in government and industry.     

试论教练装备空海军联合发展

阐述了美国空军和海军教练机装备发展现状,分析了美国空军和海军教练机装备联合发展的过程、原因以及优势,并结合我国空军和海军教练机的发展情况,得出我国空/海军教练机装备联合发展的几点启示。     

STEP: a tool for estimating avionics life cycle costs

An overview is presented of how the US Air Force has had significant success in the estimation of life cycle costs (LCC) for avionics hardware and software using the Standardization Evaluation Program (STEP) model for estimating operating and support (O&S) costs. The capabilities of the existing STEP model as well as ongoing enhancements to provide a total LCC estimating methodology are described. In addition to the standard cost reports, STEP has the capability to assess the impact of reliability on life cycle cost. Another unique feature of the STEP model is the capability to assess the impact of retest OK (RTOK) on life cycle costs. The acquisition enhancement is being accomplished in three parts each of which will produce a distinct, usable product. The three products are an automated database, an analogy estimating capability, and a parametric estimating technique. Each is briefly discussed     

Integrated Avionics: Past, Present and Future [Society News & Information]

With the advent of integrated avionics in defense and commercial systems in the late 1980s, AESS began to recognize the importance of providing a technical and management sounding board for this emerging technology domain. The panel undertook a series of special studies of interest to the general avionics community. The first study was an assessment of the Air Force's modular avionics systems architecture (MASA) program     

Synthesis and test issues for future aircraft inertial systemsintegration

A survey is presented of the potential benefits, possible pitfalls, and anticipated testing needs of integrating inertial guidance systems with systems dependent on the availability of the electromagnetic spectrum. Commonly referred to as integrated communications, navigation, and identification avionics (ICNIA), these systems of the future offer the combined potential for superb positioning and secure communications. The general characteristics (if current development trends continue) of the next-generation inertial navigation systems (INS) are briefly presented, followed by key modular and conceptual issues in the synthesis of this INS with systems dependent on the EM spectrum. Modular issues as considered here are those related to detailed implementation and resulting efficiency. Conceptual issues are those related to overall military strategy and resulting effectiveness. An example of modular systems integration is given, and a few preparations which can be anticipated for the field testing of integrated systems are presented, followed by concluding comments     

Open System Avionics Architectures

Over the last three years, Open System Avionics Architecture concepts have been addressed by the avionics community as a method for increasing affordability. The Naval Air Systems Command (Nav Air) led Advanced Avionics Architecture and Technology Review team of 1992, followed by the multiservice Avionics Engineering SubBoard (AESB) implementation phase team are two examples. The Perry memo and formation of the Open Systems Joint Task Force (OS-JTF) are further evidence of the importance placed on open systems at the DoD level. This paper summarizes these activities and their importance. Examples of the savings that can be expected by application of open systems are presented. Finally, significant on-going work along with critical technologies and concepts that need to be matured to make open systems successful are discussed     

EM Transient Protection Requirements for Avionics LRUs

Avionics and electronic equipment installed in aircraft and air breathing missiles are required to operate without upset or damage when subjected to EM environments caused by lightning, NEMP, and Intrasystems transients. To simplify the design effort required to protect electronic equipment and minimize overlapping transient requirements and qualification tests, unified test requirements and procedures are needed. The goal of these unified test procedures would be to insure a known susceptibility level for each newly designed electronic Line Replaceable Unit (LRU). Ten avionics equipments in current Air Force inventory were tested for the purpose of developing unified procedure test methods. Operating LRUs were subjected to transients using common mode cable current (CMCC), groung potentials and chatteriing relay cable injection methods. Based on observed test results and review of current test requirements, test methods and test levels for unified test procedures for power-on transient tests of avionics equipment have been formulated.     

Status of the Air Force nickel hydrogen low earth orbit life test

The US Air Force NiH₂ LEO (low earth orbit) life test consists of 200 cells undergoing real-time LEO cycling, pulse discharge testing, and storage testing. To date, three of the program's four objectives have been met: NiH₂ performance in LEO applications has been demonstrated. A significant number of cells have completed more than 20,000 cycles at 40% DOD. A database for cells of both 3.5 in. and 4.5 in. diameter has been generated. There have been no indications of any performance problems related to scaling up in terms of cell size. Initial data on the pulse discharge performance of a small number of cells has been demonstrated. Concerning the goal of achieving 20,000 cycles at 60% DOD, the data are mixed. Overall, it appears highly unlikely that cell designs such as those currently in the US Air Force test can achieve 20,000 cycles at 60%     

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     

Firewire in modern integrated military avionics

High performance communications, navigation, and identification (CNI) functions on modern military aircraft are increasingly required for mission readiness. The operation of simultaneous waveforms through an integrated avionics rack of shared resources becomes a test in moving data rapidly from one signal processing stage to the next. The IEEE 1394, or Firewire, is a commercial high bandwidth bus whose 64-bit addressing and maximum 400 Mbits/second throughput satisfies this demanding military avionics interconnect need. The challenge in applying this commercial product to integrated avionics is the requirement to seamlessly add message priority encoding. By having message priorities, the slower strategic communications links will not impair the performance of higher data rate tactical communications, thereby avoiding potentially life-threatening bottlenecks. The flight environment imposes additional challenges to ruggedize the cabling between integrated avionics racks and to utilize the full capabilities of the Firewire bus. A discussion of the physical, data link, network, and transport layers, as used in avionics applications will be done. Additionally, the versatility of 1394 in military avionics with its variable channel sizes, bandwidth on demand, hierarchical addressing, and upgrade to 800 and 1600 Mbps with a 64-bit wide data path, is emphasized. Finally, system maintenance advantages of 1394's hot pluggable features are discussed, with an eye toward cost reduction on the flight line and total operational time of the aircraft avionics systems     

From the vineyards: why the services don't get the weapons theyneed and why they aren't likely to

It is argued that the procurement of weapons by the US armed services is in crisis. Even before the bribery scandals, there was ample evidence that the whole process was in disarray. The author, a retired civil service electronics engineer, offers his personal opinion of how this happened. Two unsuccessful programs are discussed: an airborne radar designed for the US Air Force to search for vehicles moving on the ground and the Sergeant York, the US Army's attempt to build a radar-pointed, long-range, anti-aircraft gun     

Open system concepts for modular avionics

Advanced communications, guidance and navigation systems play key roles in determining superiority of one combat aircraft over another. The use of advanced technology is essential to meeting the mission requirements of present as well as future aircraft. Modular avionics are being used in next generation aircraft, such as the Air Force F-22 fighter and the Army Comanche helicopter, as the means of achieving higher levels of performance, including reduced volume and improved adaptability, maintainability, and expandability. New system acquisitions such as Joint Strike Fighter will attempt to achieve these same performance levels but at dramatically reduced life cycle cost. Retrofit applications will also take on increasing roles in meeting this affordability need as the Department of Defense (DoD) struggles to maintain readiness in the face of the shrinking defense budget. The government is encouraging the use of open standards practices as a means of addressing the affordability issue. The Open Systems Joint Task Force (OS-JTF), formed in September 1994, is chartered to “sponsor and accelerate the adoption of open systems in weapons systems and subsystem electronics to reduce life-cycle costs and facilitate effective weapon system intra- and interoperability”. The purpose of this paper is to relate the concept of open systems to modular avionics. It discusses the key attributes of an open systems approach and identifies key technologies necessary for its success     

Choosing software and replacing ATE: lessons learned

When tasked to ensure the Minuteman Intercontinental Ballistic Missile system remains fully operational and supportable through 2020, the Air Force realized that the support capability of its legacy automated test system for the operational ground support electronics subsystem would need to be completely replaced. The legacy test system, while fully operational, was rapidly becoming non-supportable. Unless replaced with new hardware and upgraded test program sets, the needed long-term support could not be provided to the weapon system. To address this issue within the scope of available program funding constraints, the Air Force selected an approach of combining the technical and programmatic expertise of the weapon system prime contractor, the program control responsibilities of the weapon system Program Office, and the technical capability of an Air Force technical organization. The program was divided into two phases: a prototype phase and a production/rehost phase. This paper gives an overview of the program and presents valuable lessons learned during the prototype phase.