Aging Aircraft Solutions was asked by the Automatic Test Systems Division of the Agile Combat Support Directorate of the Air Force Life Cycle Management Center, to perform a supportability study for the cruise missile automatic test system (CM-ATS). The CM-ATS is a nuclear certified multi-bay test system used to test and diagnose the nuclear and conventional AGM-86 Cruise Missile fleet and associated Carrier Aircraft Equipment (CAE) for the B-52. The CM-ATS is the only test system capable of diagnosing/certifying the AGM-86 Cruise Missile. CM-ATS is composed of test equipment that fielded in the early 1980s and was originally designed for ten years of service life. The CM-ATS is required to remain operational through the year 2035 to match the service life of the AGM-86 Cruise Missiles.
The study included a diminishing manufacturing sources and obsolescence survey to determine the current supply status of all test replaceable units.
The study also included a study of the risk factors affecting the supportability and maintainability of the CM-ATS, including failure rates, repair availability, supply supportability, spares, procurement, cost, maintenance and re-host.
Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages (DMSMS) is the loss, or impending loss, of manufacturers or suppliers of items or raw materials. DMSMS is typically driven by market-related factors:
- technology phase-out/new technology
- erosion of industry base
- limited access to sources of supply, and
- functional obsolescence
- Prepare – Maintain case management data & program infrastructure
- Identify – Monitor components and assemblies
- Assess – the impact of obsolescence issues
- Analyze – ways to resolve the obsolescence issues, and
- Implement – Oversee the implementation of the resolutions
