Keysight signal generators help Navy upgrade hardware-in-the-loop test facility at China Lake
RIDGECREST, Calif., 24 Oct. 2016. U.S. Navy avionics researchers needed vector and analog signal generators to upgrade the RF and microwave hardware-in-the-loop test facility at the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division-China Lake in Ridgecrest, Calif. They found their solution from Keysight Technologies in Englewood, Colo.
Officials of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division announced a $300,673.85 sole-source contract to Keysight for three vector signal generators and one analog signal generator to upgrade the hardware-in-the-loop facility at China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station in Ridgecrest, Calif.
China Lake integrates weapons and avionics onto tactical aircraft that include the F/A-18 jet fighter bomber; AV-8B jump jet; AH-1W and AH-1Z attack helicopters; EP-3E signals intelligence and reconnaissance aircraft; and F-22 jet fighter.
The facility, located in the Mojave Desert northeast of Los Angeles, is interconnecting hardware-in-the-loop, virtual test facilities, and flight test ranges to develop and test network interoperability among aircraft systems.
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China Lake’s help Navy experts test weapons components and integrated weapon systems in realistic environments. These environments support full-scale joint-live-fire survivability tests; network centric warfare; and interoperability, modeling and simulation, and parachute testing.
The electronic combat range (ECR) at China Lake is the Navy's primary open-air range for test and evaluation of airborne electronic warfare (EW) systems. Long before a system is ready for flight testing, experts can be test it against an assortment of threat systems and advanced technology simulators.
The ECR provides engineering support, developmental and operational test and evaluation, analysis and training resources for users of systems designed to counter or penetrate enemy air defenses. Combat aircraft pilots can train against air-to-air and surface-to-air missiles, as well as complete an air-to-ground strike mission.
For test and verification purposes, Navy officials are adding three agile RF sources to the existing scene-generation system at the hardware-in-the-loop facility at China Lake -- the three vector signal generators and one high performance analog signal generator from Keysight.
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Signal generators produce repeating or non-repeating analog and digital RF signals to help engineers design, test, troubleshoot, and repair electronic devices.
In addition to the signal generators, the hardware-in-the-loop facility has two anechoic chambers and work areas for testing and simulation of how missile seekers and threat targets interact.
For more information contact Keysight Technologies online at www.keysight.com, or the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division at www.navair.navy.mil/nawcwd/command/Navy.aspx.
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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.
