Evaluation Engineering - 7

reaches the market. Maintaining technology superiority is paramount today, and
slowing down new technology adoption is
simply impossible. This requires a holistic
view of the product's entire lifecycle and
digitalization."
Applications engineers at Amplifier
Research: "While test standards are always slow to change, there does seem
to be a trend-even if unintentional-to
better harmonize Mil/Aero standards.
For example, the latest version of MILSTD-461 (G) has incorporated indirect
lightning testing (CS117) from DO-160G,
as well as ESD testing (CS118). Both standards continue to evolve and take new
and emerging technologies and threats
into account."
Herman van Eijkelenburg, director of
marketing at Pacific Power Source:
"Historically, Mil/Aero power systems
have been powered with voltages of
115VLN for single-phase and 200VLL
for three-phase AC power at 400Hz and
28Vdc for DC power. With the demand
for onboard power growing rapidly over
the past few years, new power systems
using both higher voltages and higher
frequencies have been introduced. This
includes wild frequency systems with
variable frequencies from 360Hz to 800Hz,
which simplifies onboard engine driver

Pacific Power Source's
3150AFX AC and DC programmable
power source.

power generators' mechanical reduction gear requirements. It also involves
boosting voltage to support more power
without increasing current levels which
would require heavier and larger power
cable harnesses. AC voltages have risen to
230V/400V, and DC power systems of +/270Vdc are proliferating in new airframes.
This trend is driven by what is called the

more electric aircraft (MEA), where
an increasing number of hydraulic
systems are being replaced by electrical systems, which require less
maintenance."
Bob Stasonis, technical product
specialist at Pickering Interfaces:
"Today's Mil/Aero market testing
requirements very closely track the
commercial industries in terms of increased bandwidth, complexity, and intelligence. Whereas the commercial industry
is always abandoning old technology for the
"next big thing," the problem-or rather, balancing act-with Mil/Aero test systems is
always to have the most up-to-date test
system that ALSO supports older defense
programs. That increase also emphasizes
the need for hardware-in-the-loop simulation (HILS) testing. A weapons system needs
to continue to function as predictably as
possible when damaged by enemy fire. So,
testing LRUs to see how they react in a bad
situation calls for HILS applications."
Darren McCarthy, A&D technical marketing manager at Rohde & Schwarz: "A
major challenge for Mil-ATE customers
is staying vigilant to the latest threats on
instrument security. Modern test equipment utilizes the latest computing processing power available and often runs on
embedded versions of industry-standard
operating systems such as Windows, iOS,
and Linux. With modern connectivity
of LAN, USB, and even Wi-Fi control in
some cases, operating procedures must
be maintained to reduce the vulnerability
to cyberattacks and an environment free
from malicious threats."
Glenn Woppman , CEO of ASSET
InterTech: "In terms of ATE testers,
continuing to try to standardize and use
more commercially available solutions
like eCASS tester-leveraging solutions
from LM-Star testers."
Blaine Barnard, Sr. manager, military
and government product marketing at
Tektronix: "With the increase in fieldbased threats being triggered through
RF signals, there is a need to evaluate/
detect specific spectra in the field with

Tektronix' RSA7100A real-time spectrum analyzer.

ruggedized, portable spectrum analyzers,
which enable Mil/Aero engineers to bring
greater measurement capability to field
and range environments. Increasingly
higher frequency designs allow engineers
to monitor and detect specialized threats
with more confidence."
Nick Butler, head of global aerospace & defense marketing at National Instruments:
"On the aerospace side, the "race to space"
is heating up with more and more countries
planning manned missions to the moon
and private entities looking at everything
from public space travel to a better way
to provide launch services for small satellites. The proposed DoD budget for 2020
even includes funding for a new military
branch called U.S. Space Force, which will
undertake missions and operations in the
rapidly evolving space domain. These developments will be an incredible undertaking
for test engineers in the coming months
and years as rapid development times will
create increased pressure on the test and
measurement cycle."

Challenges
What key challenges are vendors or their
partners facing in Mil/Aero test?
Sargeant, Marvin Test Solutions: "Product
life cycle management continues to be a
concern as aircraft are facing service life
extension programs (SLEP). These SLEP
efforts often add smart weapons and
armament and demand more advanced
maintenance test equipment. The support equipment is often overlooked, forcing
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Evaluation Engineering

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