Why an Air Force centralized integrated diagnostics office?

The author addresses shortcomings in the areas of fault detection and isolation in weapon systems and discusses major challenges in the field of diagnostics. The US Air Force´s vision for integrated diagnostics is described, and the general responsibilities of the new Air Force Center for Integrated Diagnostics are outlined. It is pointed out that the dynamics of how the US Air Force buys maintenance capabilities for weapon systems must change from the current practice of specifying isolated capabilities to a total integrated support approach. This new focus is essential because of the changing fiscal and support environment projected for the 1990s and beyond. This environment will dictate less intermediate-level equipment with corresponding reductions in support assets. Weapon systems in the 1990s will employ more embedded diagnostics technology and associated automated support systems. Consequently, the US Air Force´s focus is moving towards an integrated diagnostics concept. The greatest challenge in this effort is to integrate testability, automatic and manual testing, training, improved maintenance capabilities, and technical information to achieve vertical testability, reductions in manpower, increases in mobility, and cost-effective maintenance capabilities