Army asks Astronics for next-generation automatic test and measurement for radios in $215.5 million deal
NEWARK, N.J. – U.S. Army communications experts needed a next-generation test and measurement system for modern and legacy military radios. They found their solution from the Astronics Corp. Test Systems segment in Orlando, Fla.
Officials of the Army Contracting Command in Newark, N.J., announced a $215.5 million five-year contract to Astronics this month to build and deliver the TS-4549/T automatic radio test set.
The TS-4317 will be a single-box general-purpose electronic test set that integrates several electronic test instruments. It will replace the Army's semi-automatic TS-4317/GRM-122 test and measurement systems, which need replacement because of low readiness, increased capability needs, and component obsolescence.
The GRM-122 is a multi-box system that includes the TS-4317, which semi-automatically tests radios with on-board test program sets. Army experts say the GRM-122/TS-4317 will be unsupportable beginning late this year.
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The TS-4549/T radio test set will be single unit, consisting of synthetic instrumentation that can be replaced by plug-in instrumentation cards to allow the addition of new capabilities as they become necessary to ward-off obsolescence as technology changes.
These test sets will be designed to support new radios as they come on line, will offer advanced cyber security, and will be able to test, troubleshoot, and help repair legacy radios and newer software-defined radios (SDRs).
Development of the TS-4549/T radio test set has been in progress for several years. In 2011, the Army Test Equipment Modernization (TEMOD) Joint Working Group determined that the TS-4317, AN/GRM-122, and AN-GRM-114B needed to be replaced.
In October 2020 the U.S. military asked Astronics to use a novel application of commercial technologies to develop TS-4549/T radio test sets to serve as the benchtop solution for organic test and repair of Army radios.
Work at Astronics to develop TS-4549/T prototypes involved testing, troubleshooting, and repair of legacy radios, as well as for newer software-defined radios (SDRs). The TS-4549/T radio test sets are to improve semi-automatic testing capability to a fully automatic tester capable of rapid radio test and quick isolation of faults.
Now begins full-scale production of the TS-4549/T. The contract has a two-year option to could extend production through 2031. On this contract Astronics will do the work at locations to be determined with each order and should be finished by June 2029.
For more information contact Astronics Test Systems online at www.astronics.com/test-simulation, or the Army Contracting Command-New Jersey at https://acc.army.mil/contractingcenters/acc-nj/.
John Keller | Editor-in-Chief
John Keller is the Editor-in-Chief, Military & Aerospace Electronics Magazine--provides extensive coverage and analysis of enabling electronics and optoelectronic technologies in military, space and commercial aviation applications. John has been a member of the Military & Aerospace Electronics staff since 1989 and chief editor since 1995.
