Analysis of the EOSS+ Module for the Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS)

摘要

This report documents research by the Institute for Defense Analyses on the costand capabilities of the Electro Optic Subsystem (EOSS+), the electro-optical module that the Northrop Grumman company is developing for the Navy's Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS). The research, which was completed in the spring of 1996, was sponsored by the Director, Weapon Support Improvement Group, Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Economic Security) and conducted for the CASS Program Office, PMA-260 in the Naval Air Systems Command. We found that because of improvements in design, the EOSS+ is superior to the older EOSS in both total system cost and test capability. The EOSS+, moreover, will be able to test almost all electro-optical systems of recent Navy and Marine Corps aircraft and Army weapons. Based on these favorable findings, we recommended that the Navy continue developing the EOSS+, but test new design features (particularly, the newly developed software and methods for testing arrays) before production. The program office should also consider making Pre-Planned Product Improvements to enable the EOSS+ to test the newer CO2 and 1.54 micrometers lasers.