Integrated Avionics Status
The Boeing avionics team, located in Seattle, Wash., is responsible for integrating the F-22 Raptor's advanced avionics, analyzing avionics flight test data, developing the mission software and producing all power supplies.
The team has been testing hardware and software packages in both its Avionics Integration Lab, or AIL, since 1998, and on its 757 Flying Test Bed, or FTB, since March 1999. Both the AIL and FTB are helping to reduce avionics risks and contain development costs by performing extensive evaluation and troubleshooting of the avionics operational flight packages, or OFPs, before they are installed on the F-22. To date, Boeing has completed more than 21,300 hours of avionics testing in the AIL and over 1,000 hours on the FTB.
The Boeing avionics lab integration team OFP deliveries include Block 1.2, Block 2/3S, and Block 3.0 in 2000; five Engineering and Manufacturing Development (EMD) and one Production Representative Test Vehicle (PRTV) Block 3.0 updates in 2001; and Block 3.1.0 and 3.1.1 in 2002.
One of the most significant accomplishments is the quality of the products delivered to flight test. Relatively few problems have been encountered when an OFP is flown in a F-22 test aircraft for the first time. The AIL and FTB continue to work collaboratively as a cost-savings team to upgrade, test, and integrate both EMD and PRTV software OFP's for delivery to the F-22.
Through close cooperation, process improvements, and parallel testing, the avionics labs have significantly reduced OFP certification testing cycle time from over six weeks in 2000 to less then three weeks in 2002.
The Boeing avionics Systems Engineering team continues to analyze and validate flight-test data received from both the FTB, and from Raptor test flights conducted at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. The team also has provided analysis support for both AIM 9 and AIM 120 missile launches.
In addition to these on-going tasks, the Systems Engineering team has developed the concepts and initial plans for development of an avionics test set to be used for ground-based F-22 aircraft avionics integration and troubleshooting during the manufacturing of production aircraft. Development and implementation of the avionics test sets will result in exceptional cost savings to the F-22 program. Production and deployment of the test tets is scheduled to occur in 2003.
Avionics radar and power supplies production activities continue to be a high priority. All shipments for PRTV have been completed, and Lot 1 and 2 shipments are well under way.
In the area of affordability, the implementation of Boeing-funded process improvements on several components of the radar/power supply systems, to include the T/R module and circulators, have been a tremendous success. Predicted cost savings have been substantiated in the first three production contracts, and the targeted cost savings of $350 million over the production life have been legitimized. The production team is also involved in a joint venture with Northrup Grumman and Raytheon to develop the next generation radar for the F-22, which is targeted to support the air-to-ground mission of the Raptor.
The mission software (MSW) IPT continues to demonstrate solid schedule performance and post-delivery defect rates well below the industry average. MSW continues to expand it's role within avionics as it begins work on embedded training programs that will enhance training for the pilots who will actually fly the Raptor.
Overall, the Boeing F-22 avionics team is very much on target in the areas of performance, cost, schedule, and delivery of quality products.
October 2002
Contact:
Chick Ramey
(206) 662-0949