412TW/EWWA - (661) 555-0840    

The BAF, part of the Avionics/Electronic Warfare Test Division is located at the Avionics Test & Integration Complex (ATIC). The BAF supports installed systems testing for test programs requiring a large, shielded chamber with radio frequency (RF) absorption capabilities that simulates free space. As such, the BAF houses the largest anechoic chamber in the world. Measuring 264'x250'x70' (80x76x21 meters), the BAF  can accommodate virtually any existing Air Force, Navy, Army or Marine aircraft. It has an interior RF shielded volume of 4.62 million cubic feet. The radar absorbent material (RAM), shielding, and free space volume provide a highly desirable test environment - free from unwanted electrical noise, physically and electronically secure, and repeatable test conditions. The facility has the appropriate instrumentation and utilities to operate and evaluate installed avionics systems. Tactical sized (single or multiple) or large vehicles can be operated in a controlled electromagnetic (EM) environment with emitters on and sensors stimulated while RF signals are recorded and analyzed.
     Unlike flight testing, testing in the BAF can be accomplished without flight qualified components. With IFAST avionics spread benches in an adjacent facility for avionics troubleshooting, engineers can test less mature systems earlier in their development cycle. This can be especially useful for engineering and manufacturing development (EMD) programs and demonstration/validation programs from the standpoint of fixing problems early in the test program where the cost is much less and while acquiring data to make critical production decisions.
       The BAF's threat generation system generates RF signals with a wide variety of characteristics simulating blue/red/gray (friendly/threat/unknown) surface-based, sea-based, and airborne systems. With the combination of signals and control functions available, a wide variety of scenarios can be emulated. Many of these scenarios are not available on outdoor ranges from the aspect of threat density, pulse density, and number of simultaneous types that can easily be generated in the BAF.
     The anechoic chamber is large enough to hold the B-1B, B-52, C-17, or up to four fighter-sized aircraft. The BAF can also support testing of other types of systems such as spacecraft, satellites, tanks, air defense systems, drones and armored vehicles. Access is from the adjoining flightline via a single piece shielded chamber door measuring 200 feet wide and 68 feet high (61 meters wide, 20.7 meters high).
     An 80 ft. (24.4 meters) diameter turntable is located in the center of the chamber floor. The turntable is rated for 250,000+ lbs (113.6 metric tons) and has a +/- 190 degree rotation with a 0.05 degree resolution. Higher test article weights, up to 350,000 lbs (159.1 metric tons), is possible subject to weight distribution requirements. All test article support utilities and data or instrumentation interfaces are routed through the turntable.
     The chamber includes an 80,000 lbs (36.4 metric tons) man-rated hoist for lifting tactical sized aircraft into the quiet zone. Hoisted test vehicles can be rotated in azimuth, independently, or in conjunction with turntable movement.
     Types of testing performed include:

Installed avionic systems/subsystems testing.
• Avionics and weapons/munitions/sensor integration
• Antenna parameter measurements (installed and stand-alone)
• Electromagnetic interference/compatibility (EMI/EMC)
• Multiple aircraft interoperability
• Radiated/conducted emissions
• Systems sensitivity measurements
• Anomaly investigation
• Controls and Displays evaluation

Electronic warfare (EW) systems testing
• Free-space threat signal generation identification
• Minimum discernable signal
• Repeater and noise jamming
• System response time
• Target resolution/signal correlation
• Multi-emitter scenario performance
• Radar cross-section/imaging
• Electronic combat/avionics software development testing
• Angle of arrival measurement

For more information, see BAF Facility

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