B-2 automatic test equipment

This paper describes the development of automatic test equipment (ATE) to demonstrate an intermediate level maintenance capability for selected avionics for the B-2 Advanced Technology Bomber (ATB). The topics discussed include: the contractual requirements for B-2 ATE; the ATE development concept and approach; the building block approach; the history of B-2 Automatic Test Station (ATS); Test Program Set (TPS) development; design team approach to design maintainability into the avionics; the application of ATE concepts originally planned for the F-20 Tigershark; the application of the USAF Modular Automatic Test Equipment (MATE) requirements for both hardware and software; the use of B-2 ATE for factory acceptance of selected avionics; the participation of the TPS industry in grouping of TPS´s into common lots for development; and the creation of a Central TPS Integration Facility (CTIF) to reduce costs. The current status of the B-2 ATE program is described. Several significant lessons learned (both technical and programmatic) since initiating the B-2 ATE program which have lowered technical risk and reduced program costs, are discussed