The Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operational concept, a proactive and reactive operational scheme of maneuver executed within threat timelines to increase survivability while generating combat power, provides a starting point for Airmen to codify best practices. However, this can be quite challenging for the aircraft armament maintainer when confronted with ineffective or outdated tools and test equipment. Maintainers understand the challenges of using outdated and/or less-capable test sets to support both legacy and Smart weapon systems on 4th and 5th generation military aircraft, including long test times, inconclusive results, utilization of multiple test sets, increased training demands, and a large logistics footprint.
Efforts to develop and field a next generation armament test set capable of addressing these short-comings have resulted in an exceptionally effective solution: the MTS-3060A SmartCan. The SmartCan is the most advanced handheld armament flightline test set available, capable of testing all Alternate Mission Equipment (AME) and Aircraft Armament Equipment (AAE) including pylons, launchers, bomb racks, POD interfaces and gun, and able to support 4th, 5th, and 6th Generation aircraft – today.
Unlike legacy handheld testers that are only capable of performing stray voltage and continuity tests, the Smart Can’s test capabilities enable full functional MIL-STD-1760 test to ensure that armament systems are ready to support Smart weapons before they are loaded. Simultaneous testing of multiple squib signals, combined with a unique cross-fire algorithm, delivers a robust test process that is superior to all O-Level armament test sets in service today. Coupled with munitions emulation communication channels supporting all existing weapons protocols, the SmartCan provides a full system test of all legacy and Smart weapons’ armament.
Developed in conjunction with armament maintainers and munition manufacturers, the ergonomic design, rapid test times, and ease of use all contribute to the proven success of the globally deployed MTS-3060A SmartCan in all flightline environments. Incorporating over 30 measurement channels, electronic loads, communications interfaces (MIL-STD-1553, MMSI, Ethernet, CAN Bus, RS-485), dedicated/continuous multiple squib circuit monitoring, and with audio and video signal generators, the SmartCan delivers functionality previously found only in larger, multi-box test sets.
The rugged, handheld construction of the SmartCan, when combined with the ability to operate in adverse weather conditions, enables field operation anywhere in the world, making it the ultimate tool for flightline armament test. The unique power management system utilizes just six standard or rechargeable AA batteries that allows operation of the SmartCan for over 40 hours, without the need to replace or recharge the batteries. An innovative calibration technique, utilizing NIST traceable high-precision references, has been incorporated into the design, eliminating the need to remove the SmartCan from the flightline for calibration, reducing down-time and support required from metrology, and simplifying logistics.
Test results and measurement variances for each weapon are displayed real-time for review, analysis, and fault isolation. Test log files can easily be moved or copied via the removable SD card for printing and analysis. This improved availability of data for analysis and predictive maintenance activities can ultimately decrease troubleshooting and repair times, enhancing mission readiness.
Live, on-aircraft demonstrations have yielded time savings as high as 89% per weapons station, over eight O-Level testers consolidated, true video and audio injection, six bomb racks tested simultaneously, and operationally representative weapons emulation. The chart below shows a few of the demonstrated improvements in setup and test times for F-16 pylons and launchers.
Advanced cybersecurity features and protections further differentiate the SmartCan, making this the most cybersecure O-Level armament test set available. Data encryption, a custom-developed operating system, NIST certified software enabling Test Program Set (TPS) development, and a removable hard drive all contribute to the security of the SmartCan.
The ability to streamline TPS development and release cycles is another key advantage of the SmartCan. MTS offers a TPS development suite, ATEasy® and SmartCanEasy™, to allow users to develop, create, and integrate their own test programs as new weapons enter their inventory. With this capability, armament test professionals can create and maintain test programs without the need for contractor support, greatly expanding the utility of the test set. The rapid, organic TPS development capability will allow the air forces to keep their support equipment software synchronized with the aircraft under the rapid software development model.
The SmartCan provides outstanding armament test capabilities for all armed aircraft and their armament systems, supporting warfighters deployed under the USAF’s ACE CONOPS, and enabling the creation of true Multi-Capable Airmen. One test set, all platforms, all armament systems.