Innovative solution increases BAF support to warfighters

  • Published
  • By Carlie Mensen
  • 773rd Test Squadron

Did you know the large, lone building at the south end of the main runway is home to the largest anechoic test facility in the world?

What is an anechoic facility?

An anechoic facility is a jumbo version of an RFID-blocking wallet and it is critical for testing the aircraft that keep us safe. Just like an RFID-blocking wallet can keep your credit card information safe, the Benefield Anechoic Facility not only contains test signals inside its walls, it also blocks all outside signals to enable complex Electronic Attack and Survivability Test and Evaluation.

Why is the BAF so large?

The BAF was initially constructed to support electronic warfare testing for the defensive systems on the B-1B aircraft.  With a massive 175-ton capacity turntable in the center, and a 40-ton hoist in the ceiling, it can support large aircraft testing by rotating aircraft through a 360 degree test pattern. The hoist supports lifting smaller aircraft to simulate airborne conditions, placing the aircraft in the chamber’s “sweet spot” to improve test conditions. The size also permits simulation of the dense threat environments our warfighters might encounter in combat. It can fit virtually all Department of Defense aircraft within its four walls.  

For comparison’s sake, the other five “larger” DOD anechoic facilities in the world could all fit inside the BAF at one time.

How are the teams in the BAF innovating?  Anechoic facilities are inherently innovative and the BAF team is thinking big by thinking small.  

Since anechoic facilities are a rare commodity, always in demand by customers, it was often difficult to justify using the largest facility in the world for testing anything other than the large aircraft that are critical to keeping America safe.  

To address this challenge, the BAF team replicated their capabilities with a “mini-BAF.”  The mini-BAF was refurbished over a seven-month period, January-August 2018.  It is now utilized before each test in the BAF, most recently by a Royal Canadian Air Force team to test and characterize the aircraft’s installed antennas. 

The mini-BAF’s size is 7 percent of the BAF and is capable of testing small items such as antennas and radio frequency systems.  This innovation increases throughput, improves resource utilization and enables the 412th Electronic Warfare Group to satisfy more of its customers’ requirements.  Now Edwards AFB can test more for our warfighters, items big and small.

“The innovative idea to refurbish and utilize the full capability of the mini-BAF will not only satisfy our customers’ needs of the future, but will also provide new engineers with hands-on practical knowledge and fundamental understanding of EW testing at Edwards AFB,” said Stepan Kyutunyan, RF Engineer.

More detailed information on the BAF capabilities is located here: https://www.edwards.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Display/Article/828279/772nd-test-squadron-benefield-anechoic-facility-baf-anechoic-chamber/