A Study on the Effects of Diminishing Manufacturing Sources on the Supportability of the AN/ASQ-38 Radar System

摘要

Logistics support costs for the B-52 weapon system have increased dramatically as a result of extending its useful life beyond that originally planned in its acquisition. The primary reason for this increased cost is the vertical unsupportability of many of its subsystems. One such system is the AN/ASQ-38 radar. The unsupportability of this avionics system has resulted from a phenomenon known as 'diminishing manufacturing sources' (DMS). This phenomenon occurs when the number of contractors who manufacture the component parts of a particular system, such as the AN/ASQ-38, decreases (diminishes) as the system itself ages and becomes technologically obsolete. Thus, obtaining repair parts for such systems from an ever-diminishing source of supply becomes an ever more expensive proposition. This thesis studies the effects DMS on the AN/ASQ-38 radar to determine the principle DMS factors contributing to the system's unsupportability. It extrapolates these factors to other DOD systems to determine those factors which drive the DMS problem in general. Methods are suggested that might be used to prevent or moderate the effects of DMS on the supportability of future systems. (Author)