Automatic Test Systems

The Department of Defense (DoD) increasingly uses automatic test systems (ATS) to troubleshoot and repair complex avionics on DoD aircraft. Automatic test systems enhance mission capability, improve performance, and increase operational readiness of DoD forces.

ARINC supports this effort through its advanced weapons engineering ATS units, which develop, acquire, modify, and sustain automatic test systems for military and commercial avionics customers. We currently support ATS for Air Force fighters, attack aircraft, electronic warfare pods, and night vision targeting systems.

ARINC's flagship ATS program—the Improved Avionics Intermediate Shop (IAIS)—is available in stationary as well as mobile configurations to troubleshoot and repair defective black boxes on F-16 and A-10 aircraft in the field and the depot.  As the prime contractor for the U.S. Government for all IAIS systems, ARINC has the overall responsibility for the design, fabrication, modification, testing, and maintenance of these units. ARINC also serves as the primary integrator for IAIS hardware and software components manufactured by BAE SYSTEMS, Lockheed Martin Simulation, Training & Support, and other vendors.

In addition, ATS provides on-site acquisition and sustainment support services for a variety of U.S. and foreign military sales weapon systems programs, including platforms for the A-10, B-2, C-17, C-27, C-130J, F-15, F-16, and KC-X, the Air Force’s replacement tanker program.

ARINC is recognized in professional circles as a world class provider of ATS products and services. ARINC members of the IAIS team were awarded the prestigious U.S. Air Force Chief of Staff Team Excellence Award, the Air Force's highest honor for team achievement and process improvement. The expertise of the IAIS team has been repeatedly recognized, receiving the Air Force Materiel Command General Ronald W. Yates Team Excellence Award, the Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers Best Management Award for 2000, and the Society of Logistics Engineers 2000 Field Award for Test Equipment Excellence.