Antenna Systems & Technology - Winter 2015 - (Page 20)

FEATURE ARTICLE Mission-Critical Flight Line Testing By Robert John and Jerome Lokken, W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc. When microwave/RF technicians are performing mission-critical testing on electronic systems in military aircraft, they are challenged to bring the precision and reliability of laboratory measurements to the flight line. Many of the locations that technicians need to reach for testing are limited in space and difficult to access. With increasing requirements to add, upgrade and maintain the multitude of electronic systems in the aircraft, the demands of mission-critical testing have become increasingly more challenging. Figure 1. Typical test points in a military aircraft. Precision Systems Require Precision Testing With the growth in electronic warfare (EW) technologies and capabilities, precision testing of these systems is becoming even more crucial. In addition, as these complex environments get packed with electronic components, there is a necessity to make accurate and reliable microwave/RF measurements, often in hard-to-reach areas. The reliability of the test system is crucial, and critical components of these test systems are the microwave/RF test cable assemblies. These assemblies are actually the lifeline between the test equipment and the mission-critical systems under test. The ability to reliably deliver precision measurements in mission-critical applications such as military aircraft, antennas, Radar, and EW suites in the fuselage is essential. Making accurate and reliable RF and microwave measurements in the demanding environments of flight lines requires extra durable microwave/ RF cable assemblies. In addition to meeting rigorous environmental challenges including moisture, shock, vibration, mechanical stress and flexure, the cable must endure constant coiling and uncoiling as well as being stepped on, dragged or even run over by carts. Cables are often exposed to sharp edges, hinges, fuel, water and hydraulic fluids. During this exposure, cables need to be routed over and through the aircraft. Assembly lengths up to 50 feet are necessary to reach these systems regardless of their location on the aircraft. Other examples of testing applications on an aircraft include EW / Radar suites; electronic surveillance/counter measures; Radar warning systems; missile approach warning systems; and navigation/ communication systems. 20 Antenna Systems & Technology Winter 2015 www.AntennasOnline.com http://www.AntennasOnline.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Antenna Systems & Technology - Winter 2015

Table of Contents
Editor’s Choice
A New Leap Towards True Software-Defined Radio
SON: The Future of LTE Network Deployments and Operations
Manufacturing of Zero-Centered Antennas for High Precision Positioning with Global Navigation Satellite Systems
Mission-Critical Flight Line Testing
Antennas
Components/Subsystems
Test & Measurement
Industry News
Marketplace
Tighter PIM Requirements for Multiband DAS

Antenna Systems & Technology - Winter 2015