Computer upgrade and TPS re-host of military ATE with commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) hardware and software

As the inventory of existing weapons systems ages, without the prospect of many newer systems becoming operational soon, the DOD is faced with the issue of what to do with ATE approaching obsolescence. Typically two paths are considered, viz, total replacement with new Commercial Off The Shelf (COTS) ATE (including redevelopment of all test programs) or updating the current ATE´s computer and re-hosting the legacy software, i.e. Test Program Sets (TPSs) to run on the new computer´s operating system. This paper presents the preliminary results of the latter for a C/ATLAS-based USAF MATE system.