B-1 FIDL accomplishes 'power-on' in phase two software testing

  • Published
  • By Jennifer Hogan
  • Boeing Global Services & Support
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  A B-1 Lancer bomber upgraded with Boeing's Fully Integrated Data Link accomplished its first power-on since going through routine depot maintenance earlier this year. It also successfully transmitted and received data out of the Link 16 antennas for the first time. The milestones were reached last week at Edwards.

"We are moving ahead very well with the system test activities," said Eric Vanderslice, FIDL program manager. "We were able to send and receive messages between the Link 16 on the B-1 and the Ridley test facility at Edwards."

This phase of ground testing will validate the new FIDL software upgrades and Link 16 capabilities. The phase two testing started this month when the FIDL systems had power applied. Phase one testing, which was completed in October 2009, tested the new FIDL hardware in ground and flight tests.

In addition to the previous system level tests, the new FIDL hardware and software has also been through extensive component testing. Full qualification of all the hardware has now been documented by the FIDL team, and submitted to the 812th Aeronautical Engineering System Group at Wright Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio.

"This significant step indicates that the hardware has been proven to be suitable for operation in all conditions that the B-1 is designed to operate," said Mr. Vanderslice.

The Boeing and Air Force test team also logged the B-1's UHF-3 radio into a real satellite Demand-Assigned Multiple Access channel and connected to a Joint Range Extension Applications Protocol network. JREAP extends the range over which data messages can be transmitted via a satellite channel. This test was performed while the Link 16 was logged into the network, demonstrating concurrent operations of both networks.

Flight test of the full system will begin April 27 and is expected to last nine months. All 66 aircraft in the B-1 bomber fleet will receive the FIDL upgrade. FIDL brings new processors, colored displays and new communications architecture, which provide B-1 crews with enhanced battlefield awareness and allows war fighters to communicate more effectively.