Automatic Test Equipment Development
Abstract
This program element (PE) provides for development and testing of automatic test equipment, precision calibration instruments, general-purpose test equipment, state of-the-art diagnostics and prognostics technologies, and software and systems to support the increasingly complex electronic components of the Army's new and upgraded weapon systems focused on joint operations in a sophisticated multi-domain area of operation. It focuses on standardization and implementation of commercial test and diagnostic technologies across multiple weapon platforms to minimize the cost of troubleshooting and maintenance of Army equipment in the field. Funding supports modernization of the test equipment fleets by investigating technology insertions including, but not limited to, predictive and prognostic maintenance, instrument reduction/miniaturization, electro-mechanical, electro-optics (EO), radio frequency (RF), physical, radiological, chemical, and biological warfare sensor calibration support capabilities, and other emerging technologies. Funding also supports development of initial prototypes to enable refinement of Operational Requirements documented by Combatant Commands (COCOM), Program Executive Offices (PEO), Army Futures Command (AFC), Army Staff, US Army Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC), and early user feedback to support future sustainment and testing capabilities required for emerging weapons platforms. This PE provides for continued development and improvement of general-purpose test equipment and calibration standards with emphasis on the incorporation of digital electronics and tailoring of configurations to improve deployability, mobility and survivability of the support equipment. It includes development, demonstration and testing of calibration standards and techniques to support new Army test equipment requirements; and, it provides for feasibility studies, market research, inventory analyses, bid sample testing and prototyping to support acquisition of calibration systems and general-purpose test and diagnostics equipment The Department of Defense (DoD) has designated the Integrated Family of Test Equipment (IFTE), comprised of the Maintenance Support Device (MSD) and the Next Generation Automatic Test System (NGATS), as the authorized Army standard for field and sustainment maintenance. The MSD provides at-system automatic test and diagnostic support and the NGATS consolidates off-system automatic test and diagnostic equipment requirements. The IFTE systems being developed under this PE provide electronic fault isolation, diagnostic and repair capabilities at all levels of maintenance and do it more cost effectively than system-specific testers. They provide state-of-the-art test and diagnostic capabilities, reducing costs and logistics footprints while providing the Warfighter fix-forward capability for current and future weapon systems in multi-domain operations. The systems are designed to support the Cross-Functional Teams (CFT) in the Army Futures Command (AFC) as they mature in accordance with the DoD Automatic Test Systems strategy. The MSD is employed by more than thirty military occupational specialties to perform field level maintenance on approximately 50 weapon systems, including Abrams, Bradley, Stryker, aviation platforms, missile systems, and the Army's wheeled vehicle fleet. FY 2023 base funding for this PE continues incremental development of the Army's standard At-Platform Automatic Test System, MSD, which will enhance testing and diagnostic capability required by supported weapon systems. Funding supports tactical vehicle sustainment concepts, evaluates evolving weapon system diagnostic testing requirements, incorporates additional organic diagnostic software capabilities to troubleshoot weapon systems, and ensures data bus compatibility and readability with commercial technology. It evaluates and incorporates cyber security enhancements into at-platform diagnostic hardware and software. Funding also provides for market research, feasibility assessment, and interaction with supported weapon systems to determine most effective methodology for diagnostic software to incorporate emerging At-Platform Predictive & Prognostic Maintenance (PPMx) requirements. The FY 2023 funding will develop or significantly modify test equipment to satisfy modular force and homeland security support requirements that cannot be accommodated with test equipment currently available in the commercial marketplace such as RF and EO testing capability. It will also develop and test general-purpose test equipment and calibration standards to meet Army weapon system support requirements, and initiate development of enhanced diagnostic software and interfaces to support emerging maintenance concepts for Long Range Precision Fires, Next Generation Combat Vehicle, Future Vertical Lift, and Air and Missile Defense. The funding will provide prototype test and evaluation of field level calibration and repair support for the Radiation Detection System (RDS) fielded in FY 2020-2021 in response to Operational Needs Statement ONS 17-22580. The project resolves significant radiation measurement accuracy gaps throughout the Department of the Army operational areas and CONUS. This funding also provides for analysis of courses of action to incorporate additional intrinsic calibration instruments and general-purpose test equipment to reduce the maintenance hierarchy, increase calibration intervals, extend lifecycle reliability, and increase supportability across generational changes in weapon systems and weapon support systems technology.
Document Details
- Document Type
- R2 Budgetary Justification
- Publication Date
- Oct 01, 2023
- Source ID
- 0604746A_5_2040_PB_2023
- Change Summary Explanation
- FY 2023 funding increase reflects the fact that the FY 2022 President's Budget request did not include out-year funding.
- Service Agency Name
- Army
Entities
Organizations
- United States Army
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