The digital and software intensive nature of state-of-the-art avionics makes it cost effective to conduct ground tests at the IFAST. We are significantly more economical in comparison to flight tests and routinely perform tests that would be unsafe or impractical to achieve in flight. Our ultimate purpose is avionics performance risk reduction and improved capabilities for all.
     Listed below are a few of our facility features, planned upgrades, current customers, and a list of some of our past satisfied customers. For a list of our current test stations/bays, please click here.

PERTINENT TESTING
The implementation of rapidly reprogrammable software with very complex integration brought on numerous avionics changes and problems that resulted in flight test aircraft being used as troubleshooting tools. It also left test personnel with inadequate resources to determine if recent software changes had affected functions already flight-tested. Limitations on space and physical access to the avionics prevented inflight carriage of computer systems to handle the data making access to inflight avionics data severely limited. The solution is ground-based avionic systems integrated with real-time automated data processing systems to handle data acquisition and analysis.

The IFAST provides programs with core avionics ground test stations reconfigurable to any one of several versions of flight test avionics. IFAST test bays support simulated flight with an operator-in-the-loop that includes options to run in free play or computer driven real-time, freeze or roll back modes. The IFAST also provides test programs with radar ground test stations reconfigurable to any one of several offensive radars.

The key capability of IFAST is we configure with real avionics hardware allowing computer access to all interface signals. This access permits stimulation, control and monitoring of individual functions in many ways that are not possible with avionics installed in an aircraft.

FACILITY
- 82,000 sq ft (7,616 sq meters), three-story building, with a usable roof.
- Six program test stations, each approximately 6,800 sq ft (632 sq meters) and each having approximately 2,800 sq ft (260 sq meters) of shielded bay area.
- Fire suppression systems.
- Technical flooring, filtered 400/60 hertz, 480/208/120 Vac, cooling air, coolanol liquid, fiber-optic data lines, and environmental conditioning for computer systems in all test bays.
- A 15,000 lbs. (6.8 metric ton) capacity elevator for easy access to all floors/loading docks.
- Emergency back-up power generator.
- Closed-circuit television (CCTV) and automated security cardkey access control systems for security and safety surveillance and monitoring.
- Fiber-optic links interconnecting selected test bays between IFAST and the Benefield Anechoic Facility for transmission of MIL-STD-1553 data bus and electro-optic information. These links connect selected integration laboratories with an installed systems test facility.
- Open air radiation from radar test bays

PLANNED UPGRADES
- IFAST is currently under a planned upgrade to accomodate the F-22 Flight Test Systems Integration Laboratory (FTSIL). F-22 IFAST avionics spread bench capability is scheduled for IOC in FY99.

CURRENT PROGRAMS
We allocate the test bays on a test program priority basis. Facility capabilities permit 24-hour test operations year-round. Normally, only availability of test bays impacts test capacity. Current major test programs supported include the F-16C (Blocks 30, 40, & 50), F-15C/E and B-lB offensive/defensive avionics. Some programs occupy multiple bays with fiber-optic connectivity between test bays. The F-16s and F-15s occupy adjacent test bays which offers interoperability of mature tactical programs.

SATISFIED CUSTOMERS
Previous IFAST customers include: HH-60D, Combat Talon ll MC-130, Advanced Fighter Technology Integrator (AFTI) F-16, F-20 Tiger Shark, AF Avionics Laboratory, F-16A, LANTIRN, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Seek Eagle, Naval Air Warfare Center, USAF Test Pilot School, special projects and defense contractors.

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