Rockwell completes flight tests for CRIIS

Rockwell Collins has completed test and evaluation flights for the Common Range Integrated Instrumentation System (CRIIS) at Eglin Air Force Base, the company announced on 21 October. 

The company conducted 13 test flights in September in cooperation with the CRIIS System Program Office (SPO), the University of Iowa Operator Performance Laboratory (OPL), and contractors. The L-29 from the University of Iowa OPL was used to conduct tests. 

All test flights were performed as scheduled, with one test flight cancelled owing to bad weather. All the flights were conducted using production form, fit, function airborne and ground equipment.

The key functions demonstrated on these flights included: end-to-end system validation with production representative hardware;  high confidence in ability to meet TSPI performance requirements; data link network ingress after takeoff;  ground-to-air uplink of GPS correction messages and network services from multiple data link towers;  air-to-ground downlink of TSPI messages;  and high dynamic scenarios involving a total of 133 dynamic maneuvers representative of the flight profiles fighter jets undertake during air combat training. 

The CRIIS flight hardware is configurable in either a pod mounted package or internally mounted on aircraft, in addition to the multi-level secure ground equipment. 

Rockwell Collins is the prime contractor and systems integrator for the next-generation military test range system that will replace the Advanced Range Data System (ARDS) currently in use at major US military test ranges. CRIIS equipment will support a variety of platforms, including advanced fifth-generation aircraft, and implements the DoD’s vision of common test and training infrastructure for improved operational realism.

Tommy Dodson, vice president and general manager, Surface Solutions, Rockwell Collins, said: ‘These flight tests demonstrate the mature, production ready level that the CRIIS programme has reached. Tests were an end-to-end validation of the complete CRIIS system using production representative hardware and software. This testing validated that the next generation of secure, common test and training instrumentation is mature.’