Textron Systems has secured a contract to supply advanced radar / electronic warfare test station (ARTS) automatic test equipment (ATE) systems for the US Air Force (USAF).
The $11m contract covers the delivery of 12 ARTS to support the USAF’s B-1B Lancer strategic bomber fleet.
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The USAF employs the advanced radio frequency (RF) test station, ARTS, for complex avionics systems.
The contract will replace the existing ATE systems with one integrated unit containing an advanced commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) test system, thereby addressing testing requirements of the ALQ-161 defensive avionics systems.
Textron Systems electronic systems senior vice-president and general manager Steve T. Mensh said: "The ARTS system initial platform is the venerable B-1; however, this advanced test station architecture could support many future Air Force requirements.
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"We integrated our advanced instruments with proven off-the-shelf ATE components for cost-effectiveness, reliability and future support."
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By GlobalDataTextron Systems’ solution is claimed to offer conclusive, dependable and repeatable testing at a great value that meets the customer’s requirements today and for the entire life of the programme.
Besides ARTS, the company also offers other ATE systems such as the electronic consolidated automated support system (eCASS) radio frequency mission equipment kit (RF MEK); LM-STAR; and WaveCore family of products including payload satellite test equipment sets, RF transmit / receive module test sets and analogue / digital testers.
Textron designs and builds the RF MEK components to help eCASS test critical aircraft systems including weapons, avionics and navigation.
The WaveCore products have been designed to provide the highest level of measurement capability with unprecedented reliability, maintainability and supportability for production and engineering applications, the company said.
Meanwhile, LM-STAR is a commercial ATE system for factory testing avionics of the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.
Image: B-1 Lancer heavy bomber. Photo: courtesy of US Air Force.
