Test And Evaluation Support Budget Authority

Abstract

The Automatic Test Systems (ATS) program office is responsible for developing, acquiring, delivering and sustaining ATS war-fighting capabilities for the United Stated Air Force (USAF). ATS is responsible for developing, modernizing, acquiring, and sustaining ATS to meet the user's operational needs. ATS Product Group consists of the following: Armament and Stores Avionics Electronic Warfare Software Loader/Verifier and Built-in-Test Radar and Identification Friend or Foe Specialized Automatic Test Systems Innovation and Digital Transformation Requirements for the Common Armament Tester - Fighters and the Aircraft Smart Weapon Test Set program will be combined for FY24 through the sustainment of the programs. RDT&E (APPN 3600) funds needed for the development, modernization and technology insertion for over 8K testers across all major commands and Joint Force. Accelerates developing and modernizing cyber-resilient, nuclear-certified ATS supporting USAF Armament, Bomber, Fighter/Advance Aircraft, Mobility, Training, ISR & SOF. Accelerating ATS Digital Transformation; introducing Digital Engineering into legacy systems to realize agility. RDT&E (APPN 3600) funds needed for development of the Common Armament Tester-Fighters (CAT-F) which will be a common nuclear certified, cyber secure armament testing solution for the F-15 and F-16 with the option for A-10, F-22, and F-35 platforms. The development of this test will give the DoD the ability to develop a common tester to decrease life cycle cost, increase cyber security, reduce sustainment and mobility footprint across multiple platforms and acquiring government owned data. Funds will be utilized to closeout remaining contract actions for the Bomber Armament Tester (BAT) is replacing six legacy testers and combining their capabilities into one tester. The Bomber Armament Tester will support the B-2, B-1 and B-52 platforms. It will ensure the USAF bomber fleet can conduct nuclear deterrence, global power projection and global strike operations to support the President of the United States and Combatant Commanders by providing a reliable, cyber secure, and sustainable tester. The tasks are to develop a common bomber armament tester and the Test Program Sets (Software, Hardware, and Documentation) to test the armament release equipment on the bombers. RDT&E efforts support development, testing, and producibility of the Bomber Armament Tester and Test Program Sets. The program will utilize an incremental development approach with B-2 as Increment 1, B-1 as Increment 2, and B-52 as Increment 3. The Common Aircraft Portable Reprogramming Equipment (CAPRE) Secure Memory Loader Verifier (SMLV) loads operational flight programs to the weapon systems. CAPRE SMLV leads the fleet on Cyber initiatives and is government owned and developed. CAPRE SMLV supports 45 Mission Design Series (MDS) including but not limited to A-10, B-1, B-52, C-5, C-17, C-130, CV-22, F-15, F-16, H-60 and KC-46. This RDT&E effort includes developing a Network Interface Module (NIM) that provides additional cyber hardening to the CAPRE system and redesigning the current CAPRE system to adapt to the NIM. Additionally this RDT&E effort includes software development for NIM interfaces and new weapons systems moving to the CAPRE system from other MLV systems. The goal is to provide one common cyber secure MLV for the Air Force to minimize cyber vulnerabilities in weapon systems. RDT&E efforts support prototype development and testing of the Common Armament Tester Fighter and Test Program Sets. Aircraft Smart Weapons Test Set (ASWTS)-The legacy testers do not have the capability to check a multitude of capabilities (such as MIL-STD-1760 signal integrity) added to the Fighter aircraft through avionics and weapons upgrades. A new ASWTS is required in order to fulfill current testing requirements not covered by the legacy Aircraft Circuits Preload Test Set (ACPTS). Program will be completed in an incremental Approach: Capture all Fighter aircraft requirements, Develop F-16 capability for all blocks (3600),Develop F-15 capability (3600) and Develop A-10 capability (3600) This program element also includes program administrative cost for the Automatic Test Systems program office and funds the cost of studies and research to support the Automatic Test Systems fleet, to include digital engineering and transformation. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver Automatic Test Systems Program Office weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605827F, 0605828F, 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605832F, 0605833F, 0605898F, 0606398F. In FY23 0.000M was expended, and in FY24 and FY25 7.000M is forecasted for civilian pay expenses in this program element. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2025
• Source ID: 6506TE_0701212F_5_3600_PB_2025

Tags

Fields of Study

• Engineering

Readers

• Aerospace Engineering
• Aerospace Test and Evaluation
• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.

Technology Areas

• Cyber
• Microelectronics