Navy chooses circuit card test and measurement from Teradyne for MK41 Vertical Launch System (VLS)
DAHLGREN, Va. – U.S. Navy surface warfare experts needed automated test and measurement system hardware and software to test circuit card assemblies for the MK41 Vertical Launch System (VLS). They found their solution from Teradyne Inc., in North Reading, Mass.
Officials of the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division in Dahlgren, Va., announced an $8.5 million contract to Teradyne on Wednesday for test hardware and software that can use legacy test program sets to read the circuit cards for the MK41 VLS.
The Navy is awarding the contract to Teradyne sole-source to produce timely and compatible test results for the Vertical Launch System without the need for costly redevelopment, Navy officials say. Teradyne is the only source capable of delivering these items, officials say.
Teradyne also will deliver software downloads and replacement boards, training, hardware, and software services to ensure that new test fixtures and test program sets will interface seamlessly with the automated test system.
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Teradyne will provide the company's Spectrum 9100 automated test system (ATS) unit and additional system hardware, software, and services to implement a seven-unit ATS system to screen MK41 electronic circuit card assemblies.
The Teradyne Spectrum-9100 is an integrated functional test system for high-performance digital, analog, mixed-signal, and serial bus testing in factory, depot, and intermediate test applications that require custom hardware and software integration.
The Spectrum-9100 provides a documented set of core building blocks for interface to computer workstations and integration with application-specific instruments and software tools.
The Spectrum-9100 combines advanced functionality, switching, software, self test and calibration capabilities. It incorporates industry standards that support multiple application development environments, test program set development processes, and adapters.
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Running under the Windows operating system it uses standard test system bus protocols including GPIB, LXI, PXI, and VXI, and employs programming languages and specialized in-house programming tools.
The MK41 VLS is a shipborne missile canister launching system that provides a rapid-fire missile launch capability against hostile threats. Designed by Lockheed Martin Corp., the MK41 VLS is aboard U.S. Navy Ticonderoga-class cruisers and Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, as well as on international destroyers and frigates.
The MK41 system can store and fire a mix of missiles, including the RIM-66 Standard, RIM-67 Standard, RIM-161 Standard Missile 3, RIM-174 Standard ERAM, Tomahawk missile, RUM-139 VL-ASROC, RIM-7 Sea Sparrow, and RIM-162 ESSM.
On this contract Teradyne will do the work in North Reading, Mass., and should be finished by June 2023. For more information contact Teradyne online at www.teradyne.com, or the Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren Division at www.navsea.navy.mil/Home/Warfare-Centers/NSWC-Dahlgren.
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John Keller | Editor
John Keller is editor-in-chief of Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine, which provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronic and optoelectronic technologies in military, space, and commercial aviation applications. A member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since the magazine's founding in 1989, Mr. Keller took over as chief editor in 1995.
