Fire control radar automatic testing modernization - better, faster, sustainable

Cost effective modernization to existing, obsolescent military fire control radar automated testers is critical to keeping front line combat aircraft supplied with properly functioning fire control radar antennas. These testers provide the final "sell off" performance check of recently repaired antennas before they are shipped to fighter squadrons. One of the Air Force\´s most pressing needs in this area is improving maintenance and repair supportability of their older, highly complex radar testers for the remaining life of the aircraft. One approach is to refurbish the existing testers by replacing only the non sustainable components. This requires a thorough knowledge of the existing systems. If this knowledge is available, then refurbishment can be a time and cost effective option. Discussion of a specific working example in refurbishing a fire control radar automatic tester is presented and describes a refurbishment approach for a complex tester. This refurbishment approach addresses: identifying the long term sustainment likelihood of component technologies, determining the most cost effective component technology replacements, the system reengineering process, the software reengineering process, the connectivity/recabling issues, and overall testing process improvement opportunities and goals.