Minimizing the Risks of Diminishing Manufacturing Sources and Material Shortages: Evaluating Electronic Avionics Lifecycle Sustainment Strategies

Abstract

The Air Force faces increasingly difficult challenges to maintain and sustain its highly technical weapon systems, struggling against rapid technology advancement and diminishing lifecycle for electronic systems. The reduced lifecycle times have not only This project utilizes two integrated models, the first, to determine electronic avionics demand requirements for a fleet of 96 aircraft over a 30-year period, and the second to evaluate sustainment cost over time for a) re-engineering strategy, b) lifetime buy strategy, and c) programmed redesign strategy. Statistical analysis and long-term cost comparison of these three strategies will provide a framework to evaluate specific weapon systems for future studies and to develop an attainable low-cost sustainment strategy.

A Literature Review on Mitigation Strategies for Electrical Component Obsolescence in Military-Based Systems

“…Obsolescence can also have an impact on the reliability and maintainability of a system, because availability is a function of reliability and maintainability. The Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP) is a voluntary data exchange agreement between the US Government and industries that provide critical DMSMS information that impacts system reliability and life-cycle cost [2]. Tomczykowski [5] states that, if not proactively managed, and if certain mitigation solutions are not thoroughly investigated and implemented, DMSMS could lead to higher operational downtime and decreased reliability.…”

“…These long life cycle products include airplanes, ships, industrial equipment, medical equipment, and military systems, which are slow to implement new technology and leading-edge technology -often because of the expense and the length of time that accompanies the development of a new product [1]. According to Underwood [2], since the 1970s ever-expanding commercial markets have surpassed the needs of the military, and companies have no longer manufactured military-specific components. This has forced the military to use commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) parts, and so they are at the mercy of the demand of the electronics market.…”