Methodology for Constructing a Modernization Roadmap for Air Force Automatic Test Systems.

摘要

Nearly all the electronic and electrical components in Air Force aircraft and other equipment are tested and diagnosed using automatic test systems (ATSs), computer-controlled sets of instruments that generate inputs to the components, measure outputs, and identify problems. However, two related problems currently beset the Air Force s test systems: increasing equipment and software obsolescence and the difficulty of managing the many specialized types of equipment. While piecemeal ATS modernization could help stave off obsolescence, it would be expensive and time-consuming because making new, modern instrumentation work with significantly older hardware is technically complex. On the other hand, buying completely new systems also has significant costs, such as for purchasing hardware and rewriting software. New purchases must also comply with current Department of Defense (DoD) and Air Force policies that direct replacement of mission design series (MDS) specific equipment with standard testers that can test components from multiple weapon systems. The modernization decision therefore requires balancing and trading off complex cost and capability information to decide which legacy systems to retire in favor of new ones and which to retain. The purpose of the work documented here was to develop a roadmap methodology to guide the transition of workloads from the Air Force s many legacy systems to modern DoD-approved common ATS families.