Navy and joint service missile testing-A management update

The shrinking defense budget is applying increasing pressure on the armed services for standardizing ATE. While standardization of ATE for avionics and ground systems is well established, the world of missile systems is still proliferate with Special Test Equipment. If newer missile system designs are to survive, there needs to be a concentrated effort for commonality of test equipment. Process action teams are formulating plans that promote common test philosophies and standardized test equipment among the services. The Navy´s standardized automated test system, Consolidated Automated Support System, CASS, was originally targeted for avionics support, but is now expanding to embrace standardization of missile testing. The newest CASS configuration, the guided munitions Common Test Station, moves CASS into the all-up round missile support role and paves the way for multi-service commonality. This paper discusses the management and technical challenges in developing a common test solution and the capabilities the Common Test Station offers as a standardized missile tester