Automated Test Systems

Mission — Test And Evaluation Support Budget Authority source

The Automatic Test Systems (ATS) program office is responsible for developing, acquiring, delivering and sustaining ATS war-fighting capabilities for the United Stated Air Force (USAF). ATS is responsible for developing, modernizing, acquiring, and sustaining ATS to meet the user's operational needs. ATS Product Group consists of the following: Armament and Stores Avionics Electronic Warfare Software Loader/Verifier and Built-in-Test Radar and Identification Friend or Foe Specialized Automatic Test Systems Innovation and Digital Transformation Requirements for the Common Armament Tester - Fighters and the Aircraft Smart Weapon Test Set programs were combined and is not the Common Armament Tester -Fighters for FY24 through the sustainment of the programs. RDT&E (APPN 3600) funding is essential to maintain operational readiness and technological superiority for our warfighters, requiring a strategic investment in the development, modernization, and technology insertion into over 8,000 testers impacting all major commands and the Joint Force. This investment directly supports the modernization of cyber-resilient, nuclear-certified Automatic Test Systems (ATS) across a wide range of critical USAF platforms, including Armament, Bomber, Fighter/Advanced Aircraft, Mobility, Training, ISR, and SOF, safeguarding national security and ensuring mission success. These funds will also accelerate the ATS Digital Transformation initiative, integrating Digital Engineering into legacy systems to enhance agility and responsiveness to evolving threats, ultimately improving efficiency and reducing long-term costs for the Air Force. This modernization effort is a vital component of ensuring a strong and capable military prepared to meet the challenges of the 21st century. RDT&E (APPN 3600) funds needed for development of the Common Armament Tester-Fighters (CAT-F). This tester will ensure the readiness and security of our critical fighter platforms (F-15, F-16, and potentially A-10, F-22, and F-35) which requires investment in a modernized testing infrastructure. Currently the fragmented tester environment is vulnerable to outside forces due to not being certified or kept current on needed cyber protections. This common tester would address the critical needs to protecting critical assets across all platforms and reduce vulnerabilities of mission critical data. The development of a common, nuclear-certified, and cyber-secure Automatic Test System (ATS) tester will significantly enhance cyber security, protect sensitive data, and streamline testing processes. This solution will also reduce the logistical burden of maintaining multiple testing systems, improving the mobility and deployment capabilities of our forces. This investment will also decrease long-term sustainment costs by consolidating tester requirements and acquiring government owned data Funds will be utilized to closeout remaining contract actions for the Bomber Armament Tester (BAT) is replacing six legacy testers and combining their capabilities into one tester. The Bomber Armament Tester will support the B-2, B-1 and B-52 platforms. It will ensure the USAF bomber fleet can conduct nuclear deterrence, global power projection and global strike operations to support the President of the United States and Combatant Commanders by providing a reliable, cyber secure, and sustainable tester. The tasks are to develop a common bomber armament tester and the Test Program Sets (Software, Hardware, and Documentation) to test the armament release equipment on the bombers. RDT&E efforts support development, testing, and producibility of the Bomber Armament Tester and Test Program Sets. The program will utilize an incremental development approach with B-2 as Increment 1, B-1 as Increment 2, and B-52 as Increment 3. The Common Aircraft Portable Reprogramming Equipment (CAPRE) Secure Memory Loader Verifier (SMLV) loads operational flight programs to the weapon systems. CAPRE SMLV leads the fleet on Cyber initiatives and is government owned and developed. CAPRE SMLV supports over 45 Mission Design Series (MDS) including but not limited to A-10, B-1, B-52, C-5, C-17, C-130, CV-22, F-15, F-16, H-60 and KC-46. CAPRE SMLV is also capable of supporting future MDSs This RDT&E effort includes developing a Network Interface Module (NIM) that provides additional cyber hardening to the CAPRE system and redesigning the current CAPRE system to adapt to the NIM. Additionally this RDT&E effort includes software development for NIM interfaces and new weapons systems moving to the CAPRE system from other MLV systems. The goal is to provide one common cyber secure MLV for the Air Force to minimize cyber vulnerabilities in weapon systems. RDT&E efforts support prototype development and testing of the CAT-F and Test Program Sets. Aircraft Smart Weapons Test Set (ASWTS) has been combined with the CAT-F The legacy testers do not have the capability to check a multitude of capabilities (such as MIL-STD-1760 signal integrity) added to the Fighter aircraft through avionics and weapons upgrades. A new ASWTS is required in order to fulfill current testing requirements not covered by the legacy Aircraft Circuits Preload Test Set (ACPTS). Program will be completed in an incremental Approach: Capture all Fighter aircraft requirements, Develop F-16 capability for all blocks (3600),Develop F-15 capability (3600) and Develop A-10 capability (3600) This program element also includes program administrative cost for the Automatic Test Systems program office and funds the cost of studies and research to support the Automatic Test Systems fleet, to include digital engineering and transformation. This program element may include necessary civilian pay expenses required to manage, execute, and deliver weapon system capability. The use of such program funds would be in addition to the civilian pay expenses budgeted in program element 0605829F, 0605831F, 0605833F, or 0605898F. In FY 2024 $0.303M was expended for civilian pay expenses in this program element, in FY 2025 $1.715M is forecasted for civilian, and in FY26 $2.169M is forecasted pay expenses in this 0701212F for Direct Cite Authority positions. This program is in Budget Activity 5, System Development and Demonstration (SDD) because it has passed Milestone B approval and is conducting engineering and manufacturing development tasks aimed at meeting validated requirements prior to full rate production.

Accomplishments & Planned Programs (4)