The module, designed for the targeting and release of gravity bombs, was demonstrated March 20 as part of the Open Systems Ada Technology (OSAT) program. It was flown in an AV-8B Harrier equipped with commercially based computer components -- a hallmark of non-proprietary "open" avionics systems, which promise to cut in half the cost of developing, maintaining and upgrading proprietary systems.

"The flight test demonstrated the capabilities of Ada 95 and more," said Don Winter, program manager for reusable software development at McDonnell Douglas. "It also showed that our open systems approach accommodates different programming languages, and that our ballistics approach -- based on the F-15's -- is a viable candidate for reuse across our tactical aircraft product line."

In the demonstration, conducted at a U.S. Navy test range in China Lake, Calif., the Harrier made six bombing runs from different altitudes and dive angles, dropping one bomb in each run. All six bombs released as directed, achieving the primary test objective. All six also hit the target, suggesting the effectiveness of the ballistics approach.

The new ballistics module is based on an enhanced version of a ballistics algorithm employed in the F-15E. The enhancements include capabilities for automatically detecting and compensating for sensor data errors. These capabilities were developed at Wright Laboratory as part of the Data Fusion Integrity Process program.

The OSAT program is cosponsored by the Ada Joint Program Office, the Joint Strike Fighter Program Office, and the Open Systems Joint Task Force, which promoted the use of a commercial standard called POSIX for the real-time operating system used in the Ada 95 demonstration.