MTS announces military contract news
June 11, 2014. Marvin Test Solutions has announced it garnered a $3.2M contract for its MTS-916 Modular Target Simulators from an overseas military customer. A state-of-the-art target simulator for optically guided weapons, the MTS-916 replaces multiple obsolete target simulators for AGM-65, TGM-65 Maverick, and AGM-114 Hellfire missiles and guidance sections, as well as MAU-169 Paveway target seeker kits.
MTS also announced the successful on-time and on-cost shipment of its 85th Portable Armament Test Set-70 (PATS-70) to Hill Air Force Base (AFB).
With respect to the MTS-916 Modular Target Simulators, Major General Steve Sargeant, USAF (Ret.), and CEO of Marvin Test Solutions, said, “We have a long and successful history designing and developing innovative military systems to make test easy and overcome obsolescence. We used this experience to create the MTS-916 and to meet the critical need for an accurate and reliable target simulator that can reliably test the new generation of optically guided weapons and integrate seamlessly with legacy maintenance and sustainment systems. In addition to being highly sought after to replace wide-spread obsolescence in target simulators, the MTS-916 is also a cost-effective solution.”
The MTS-916 combines visible TV/CCD, infrared (IR), and laser seeker support into a rugged, compact system. Its modular design features two main subassemblies, simplifying system repair and maintenance. The MTS-916 offers maintainers a ruggedized system that meets MIL-STD-810 temperature, shock, vibration, and humidity requirements as well as MIL-STD-461 EMI specifications. It can be used for I-level and D-level maintenance and can also operate in harsh environments. Since its release, the MTS-916 has been successfully deployed globally in many countries.
Used in conjunction with the state-of-the-art MTS-206 portable test set for the AGM-65 Maverick and AGM-114 Hellfire Missile systems, the MTS-916 target simulator delivers high reliability, offers a reduced footprint, and features better automation than the legacy test sets it replaces. The combination of the MTS-206 and MTS-916 provides a rugged flightline solution for testing, troubleshooting, and boresighting of missiles.
The MTS-916 target simulator is compatible with the legacy AN/DSM-157 guided missile test set (GMTS) and is designed to replace the manually operated AN/DSM-129 and AN/DSM-787 legacy target simulators.
Completed shipment of USAF PATS-70 test sets
In addition, MTS announced the successful on-time and on-cost shipment of its 85th Portable Armament Test Set-70 (PATS-70) to Hill Air Force Base (AFB). Delivery of the 85th PATS-70 completes the current contract between Marvin Test Solutions and the United States Air Force (USAF). In addition, the USAF has deployed its first PATS-70 systems to support the 122nd Fighter Wing based in Ft.Wayne, IN.
In 2013, the USAF awarded Marvin Test Solutions a $5.7 million contract to create a customized test platform that would accelerate the USAF's fielding of the PATS-70 flightline test set by providing mission-critical support to the modernized A-10/C Thunderbolt ll. Based on its expertise in flightline test, Marvin Test Solutions was selected by the USAF to collaborate with test engineers at Hill AFB and develop an efficient, easy-to-use test set for the newly digitized avionics and upgraded precision weapon electronics used on the A-10C.
At the core of the PATS-70 test set is a customized version of the MTS-207, an ultra-rugged, PXI-based, portable flightline platform. With the open architecture of the MTS-207, the USAF now has a flexible test solution capable of accommodating additional test instrumentation into the system as future test needs evolve for the A-10/C or even other aircraft. The USAF completed the PATS-70 by adding cables, test instrumentation, a user interface, and test program software.
“The new PATS-70 test set meets the USAF's need for ultra-rugged, high-performance flightline avionics testing by leveraging the power of our mil-spec compliant, commercial off the shelf MTS-207 chassis,” said Major General Sargeant. “We are pleased to have worked together with the USAF personnel at Hill AFB to deliver these systems within their budget and timeline. Today, the PATS-70 solution joins the long list of innovative Marvin Test Solutions equipment currently deployed or ready to deploy from the factory and flightline to the depot on multiple platforms including the F-35, F-15, F-16, F-18, TA-50, FA-50, F-5, Hawk, and UASs.”