Marvin Test Solutions Provides Open Forum at 2014 AFA Air & Space Conference to Discuss Overcoming Obsolete Aircraft Test Equipment Challenges

IRVINE, Calif., Sept. 9, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Marvin Test Solutions, a trusted provider of globally deployed innovative test solutions for military, aerospace, and manufacturing organizations, announced today that it will lead a series of seminars at next week's Air Force Association's Air & Space Conference and Technology Exposition. The seminars will take place in Exhibit Hall C and address topics including obsolescence in legacy aircraft test equipment and post-SDD armament maintenance and sustainment risk-mitigation warfighting enhancements available for the F-35.

A first-time exhibitor, Marvin Test Solutions will also display its breadth of armament test solutions, capable of testing smart weaponry across maintenance levels and aircraft currently in service, in Exhibit Hall C – Booth 239.

"Our participation at the 2014 Farnborough International Air Show and discussion with attendees validated that sequestration can cause inefficiencies at the flightline, backshop, and depot maintenance levels as legacy aircraft are extended in service with obsolete test equipment," said Major General Steve Sargeant, USAF (Ret.) and CEO of Marvin Test Solutions. "Our open-forum seminars at the 2014 AFA Air & Space Conference will provide a platform for everyone - from military leaders of all Services and ranks along with industry leaders – to share their experiences and address the challenges they've encountered with obsolete test equipment."

Open-forum Seminars at 2014 AFA Air & Space Conference
Addressing Obsolescence in Legacy Aircraft Test Equipment
Sept. 17, 2014 10:55 AM, Exhibit Hall C
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Over the years, the avionics, armament, and munitions of 4th and 5th generation aircraft – from the A-10 to the F-22 – have received numerous upgrades, including the ability to employ Smart weapons. Today's 4^th and 5^th generation aircraft systems seldom resemble the systems initially deployed almost four decades ago. Yet, maintainers around the globe are often still required to use the same or similar flightline test equipment – "beercan" test sets and big-box test equipment – to verify that these new, sophisticated systems are actually full mission capable (FMC). The legacy test systems create a warfighting armament test gap, as they do not deliver the comprehensive functional preload test capabilities required for the new Smart weapons. Often the tests sets are no longer available, aren't cost effective to maintain, nor easy to employ or deploy.

In this seminar, we'll explore challenges and associated risk of testing modernized 4^th and 5^th generation aircraft with obsolete test systems and potential solutions.

Post-SDD Warfighting Enhancements for the F-35
Sept. 16, 2014 9:55 AM, Exhibit Hall C
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At the O-level, the armament test requirements during System Design and Development (SDD) for the F-35 only call for the use of a simple, stray voltage and continuity test set. While continuity testing is credited with detecting historically many of the problems with the MIL-STD-1760 interface, some failure modes can go undetected until the weapons are loaded since no pre-load functional test is conducted. Maintainers need the ability to reduce the unknowns and mitigate mission risk by performing functionality tests on the MIL-STD-1760 interface validating communications, arming, and release prior to loading weapons. If the Services and Partner Nations flying the F-35 decide to move beyond the current two-level only maintenance strategy, supporting "remove and replace" module maintenance activity, maintainers will need a solution to conduct critical, post-SDD I-level troubleshooting and repair of the F-35 armament.

In this seminar, we'll examine capabilities of the F-35 sophisticated armament and weapons, current SDD armament maintenance and sustainment test requirements, and the available warfighting enhancements for F-35 operators and maintainers as they approach initial operating capability (IOC).

To register for the seminars, visit http://www.marvintest.com/afa.

Showcasing Solutions at 2014 AFA Air & Space Conference
At the 2014 AFA Air & Space Conference, attendees can see our armament, avionics, and other innovative test solutions in Booth 239, including:

• MTS-3060 SmartCan^TM – Flightline test for legacy and "Smart" weapons systems
• MTS-206 and MTS-916 – Combination test system for I-level test of Maverick missiles and launchers
• PATS-70 – O-level MTS-207-based platform for A-10C avionics
• MTS-210 – Aircraft Noise Test Solution
• MTS-209 – I-level test set for legacy and Smart AME
• MT-1888 – Eye Safe Laser Simulator for O- to D-level test of Laser Guided Weapons and sensors
• MTS-3045 – Advanced Hellfire Missile Simulator
• AN/TSM-205B – Flightline test set for Hellfire Missiles and Launchers
• MTS-235 – Depot test set for F-35 armament ready to future potential use at the I-level if users decide to implement I-level armament maintenance for armament

To learn more about the aircraft and weapon systems served by Marvin Test Solutions, visit http://www.marvintest.com.

About Marvin Test Solutions
Marvin Test Solutions is a vertically integrated aerospace test and measurement company that has delivered innovative solutions for factory, flightline, intermediate-level, and depot-level applications since 1988. As a member of the Marvin Group, an award-winning aerospace company with a 50-year history in the Defense and Commercial Aerospace industries, Marvin Test Solutions has test systems deployed in support of most of the major defense aircraft and munitions in use around the world. Marvin Test Solutions delivers full-spectrum test solutions that make test, maintenance, and sustainment of the most mission-critical systems easier and less costly.

Media Contact: Sam Brune, [email protected]
Customer Contact: Scott Kruth, [email protected]

SOURCE Marvin Test Solutions