Welcome to our 4th quarter and final newsletter for 2018. In this issue, you’ll learn about our exciting new PXI FPGA module, our innovative MTS-3060A SmartCan™ Gen2 Universal O-Level test set, and the advanced simulation capabilities of our suite of armament and munitions test sets that can streamline weapon system integration.
We have truly enjoyed meeting you at the trade shows and events we’ve participated in this year, and we look forward to seeing you in 2019. Our events calendar has a global reach, so I hope you’ll have the opportunity to visit us during the year; bring us your most demanding test challenges and learn how we can make test easy for you.
Wishing you and your families joyous holidays and a healthy and prosperous 2019!
Stephen T. Sargeant
CEO
We hope you enjoy this month's issue of Test Connections which includes new product updates and news events.
Please send your comments or suggestions regarding this newsletter to marketing@MarvinTest.com.
MTS Streamlines Weapon System Integration | | | | | Marvin Test Solutions’ complete portfolio of mil/aero test solutions includes a suite of weapon system integration tools and test sets to support legacy, current, and next generation fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft platforms. | |
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ATEasy includes new cybersecurity features to safeguard your mission-critical test programs:Read on
to learn more.
Next Generation Armament Test Solutions for the FlightlineClick here
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SmartCan™ Gen2 Adds Advanced Capabilities for Flightline Test
Flightline Test in your Hand
Since its introduction, Marvin Test Solutions’ SmartCan™ Universal O-Level Armament Test Set has been the choice of an ever-increasing number of customers worldwide for O-Level test of smart and legacy armament systems, replacing multiple obsolete test sets with a single handheld test solution that is smaller and easier to use while providing enhanced test capabilities.
New and Advanced Test Capabilities
Building on the features of the MTS-3060 that provide full testing capabilities for MIL-STD-1760 based systems, the new MTS-3060A SmartCan Gen2 delivers augmented test capabilities, support for 5th Gen fighters, enhanced cybersecurity, longer battery life, and additional communication channels.
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Additionally, the MTS-3060A makes test procedure development easier, employing Marvin Test Solutions’ award-winning ATEasy® - a full-featured test executive and test development software suite. ATEasy’s open architecture makes test easy with a simple-to-learn programming environment, comprehensive hardware and software simulation, and online user support through our M@GIC customer portal.
To learn more about the new features and capabilities that are making the MTS-3060A the choice of advanced militaries in multiple countries to support their aircraft and armament systems at the flightline, a detailed description with specifications is available on the SmartCan Gen2 product page.
The MTS-3060A is part of Marvin Test Solutions’ suite of smart test solutions for the field/flightline, backshop, and depot.
For more about our entire range of mil/aero test solutions, please explore our website or contact us.
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MTS Streamlines Weapon System Integration
Advanced Simulation Capabilities
Simulation of a weapon, armament, or platform is a valuable tool for test, maintenance, and sustainment of the complex weapon systems on today's military aircraft. Additionally, for weapon system integration, the simulation capabilities of Marvin Test Solutions' suite of test solutions can significantly streamline the process, enabling much of the work to be done in a lab environment even if all components of the system are not available.
Marvin Test Solutions’ complete portfolio of mil/aero test solutions includes a suite of weapon system integration tools and test sets to support legacy, current, and next generation fixed- and rotary-wing aircraft platforms including F-16, F-15, F/A-18, F-35, AH-64 Apache, RPAs, and their associated weapon systems.
MTS’ weapon system integration tools deliver comprehensive simulation capabilities to streamline integration of new weapon systems onto existing aircraft platforms as well as to enable new flexible, scalable configurations for existing systems; e.g., integration of multiple small precision-guided weapons onto existing launchers and rails originally designed for a single “smart” missile such as AGM-114 Hellfire.
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MTS-8110 Hellfire Platform Simulator
The MTS-8110 Hellfire Platform Simulator is designed to simulate the operation of a platform (rotary or fixed-wing aircraft, or remotely piloted aircraft) controlling a Hellfire II launcher.
Portable, self-contained, and housed in a rugged enclosure for easy transportability, the MTS-8110 is ideal for lab environments and system integration facilities, allowing developers of Hellfire and similar systems to complete most of the system’s design, test, and verification even without access to the aircraft. |
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MT1888 - Laser Source Simulator
The MT1888 products are state-of-the-art Laser Source/Spot Simulators (LSS) used for the testing of laser guided munitions such as the Hellfire & Hellfire II missiles, Paveway, and the AGM-65E Laser Maverick missile.
The MT1888 is field programmable and uses thumbwheel switches to select any PRF code. As a hand-held LSS, the MT1888 can be used in the field (O-level) or in the shop to exercise laser seekers, simulating the laser return of a lased target. |
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MTS-916 - Laser Target Simulator
The MTS-916 is a state-of-the-art target simulator for optically-guided weapons such as the AGM-65 and TGM-65 Maverick missiles and guidance sections, MAU-169 Paveway kits, and AGM-114 missiles. Originally designed to replace the obsolete AN/DSM-129 (TV/CCD simulator) and the obsolete AN/DSM-787 (IR simulator), the MTS-916 is fully compatible with any Maverick tester using these legacy simulators.
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MT3045 - Advanced Hellfire Missile Simulator
The MT3045 is an Advanced Hellfire Missile Simulator (HMS) for the Hellfire Modular Missile System. The MT3045 is capable of simulating Hellfire missiles, tracking critical signals, and displaying status to the operator.
The MT3045 can further be used as part of a Hellfire test system and is fully programmable to generate all signals associated with all type of missiles, and perform measurements on signals generated by the M299 Longbow Launcher.
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MTS-3060A SmartCan™ Gen2 - Universal O-Level Armament Test Set
The MTS-3060A SmartCan™ Gen2 builds on the features and capabilities of the MTS-3060 SmartCan™, offering advanced flightline test capabilities for suspension and Alternate Mission Equipment (AME) including pylons, launchers, bomb racks, and pods. A high-performance, hand-held device with a shape of a “beercan”, the MTS-3060A offers advanced flightline test capabilities as well providing test capabilities associated with traditional "beercan" test sets.
The MTS-3060A provides more than the typical Beercan measurement functions. Some weapons systems and especially the newer “smart” weapons will not activate the firing circuits unless a weapon is present. With its weapons simulation capabilities, the MTS-3060A SmartCan Gen2 is the right tool for smart weapons systems testing, delivering a robust test with expanded fault coverage. |
Knowlegebase Articles and White PapersFor more information about these products, the following articles and white papers are available in our Knowlegebase:
New 3U PXIe High-Performance FPGA/FMC Digital I/O Card
User-Programmable FPGA Module
Marvin Test Solutions has recently expanded its user-programmable FPGA product line with the addition of the GX3800e, which supports the 400-pin, VITA 57.1 FMC interface standard.
The card employs the Altera Cyclone V GX FPGA, which supports xcvr data rates up to 3.125 Gb/s and features over 300,000 logic elements and 12.2 Kb of memory. Users can design their own custom interface module or select from a wide range of commercial off the shelf FMC modules which can then be integrated with the GX3800e - creating customized instrumentation for analog or digital test applications. The design of the FPGA is done by using Altera’s Quartus or the license free Quartus Prime Lite tool set. |
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Standardized FPGA Interfaces
Virtually all FPGAs employ external hardware or PHY interfaces that connect to the external world or UUT. These interfaces provide a range of capabilities since the FPGA itself has limited I/O capabilities (e.g., current drive, voltage levels, etc.) and is essentially a digital device with very few, if any, analog capabilities.
Implementation of these PHY interfaces in general requires external interface boards that are custom to a specific vendor’s FPGA module.
An alternative to vendor-specific PHY interface solutions is the VITA 57 FPGA Mezzanine Card (FMC) standard, which standardizes both the physical and electrical interfaces to FPGAs – which has resulted in the availability of a portfolio of off-the-shelf mezzanine boards and a standardized method for interfacing to these boards via a defined connector interface. |
FMC Interface
The VITA 57 standard provides a specification describing an I/O mezzanine module with connection to an FPGA or other device with reconfigurable I/O capability.
As defined in VITA 57, the FPGA Mezzanine Card, or FMC, standardizes both the physical and electrical interfaces to FPGAs. Off-the-shelf mezzanine boards are readily available for a range of applications such as A to D, D to A, Camera Link, FPDP, and high speed serial.
To learn more about the VITA FMC interface standard and available FMC suppliers, visit the VITA website.
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A Suite of FPGA Products
The new GX3800e is part of a suite of PXI and PXIe FPGA modules:
GX3500 FPGA Digital I/O Card GX3601 FPGA PXI Card with 80-Channel TTL Buffered Channels GX3609 FPGA PXI Card with 80 TTL Differential Channels GX3610 FPGA PXI Card with 80 mLVDS Channels GX3640 FPGA PXI Card with 40 ECL Channels GX3700 FPGA High Performance Digital I/O Card GX3700e FPGA PXIe High Performance Digital I/O Card GX3702 FPGA PXI High Performance Digital I/O Card GX3788 FPGA PXI High Performance Multi-Function Card |
FPGA Resources
To ensure maximum flexibility and long term / organic support for test systems and applications, users of FPGA-based instruments should focus on employing industry standards. The Marvin Test Solutions website Knowlegebase includes these resources to illustrate the advantages of employing best practices and industry standards for the use of user-programmable FPGA-based instruments:
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Newsworthy Happenings at Marvin Test Solutions
Connect With Us!
Connect with MTS on social media (LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook) to learn more about how We Make Test EasyTM, and visit our YouTube channel to view our latest videos.
Recent Trade Shows
This year has brought us the opportunity to meet with customers around the globe to demonstrate our customer-focused test solutions for military, aerospace, and manufacturing applications. We truly enjoy this interaction, and we appreciate the chance to discuss your most demanding test challenges.
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We look forward to seeing you at the upcoming shows and events listed below. To arrange a meeting, contact Jessica at: JessicaD@MarvinTest.com
Upcoming Trade Shows, Conferences and Events
- WEPTAC ACC 2019 Weapons and Tactics Conference, Nellis Officers Club, Nellis AFB, NV
Jan 16 - 17, 2019
This event presents an opportunity for the defense industry to meet and discuss current issues and future trends, and learn from the warfighters who will use their products.
- TestConX (BiTS Workshop), Hilton Phoenix East/Mesa Hotel, Mesa, AZ
Mar 3 - 6, 2019
BiTS is the preeminent event for what’s Now & Next in the test of packaged integrated circuits (ICs). The technical program and exhibition is dedicated to providing a forum for the latest information on a broad range of test topics including final, wafer sort, and burn-in.
- AAAA 2019 Army Aviation Mission Solutions Summit, Gaylord Opryland, Nashville, TN
Apr 14 - 16, 2019
The annual Summit provides an opportunity for the entire Army Aviation Community to gather in one place at one time focused solely on Army Aviation issues. Soldiers, Industry, Acquisition, R&D, Retired, Veterans, Maintenance, Logistics, Simulation, Special Operations, Training and Doctrine, MEDEVAC, Active Duty, Army National Guard, U.S. Army Reserve, and Army Aviation Leadership all take part.
- International Paris Air Show, Exhibition Center of Le Bourget, Paris, France
Jun 17 - 23, 2019
The International Paris Air Show at Le Bourget brings the entire industry together once every two years. This event, over a hundred years old, is the largest and longest-running aerospace trade show in the world, including the latest technology in aerospace on display, and exciting flying demonstrations each day.
- SEMICON West, Moscone Center, San Francisco, CA
Jul 9 - 11, 2019
SEMICON West is the world’s marketplace for microelectronics innovation, featuring nearly hundreds of international exhibitors showcasing products and services across the manufacturing ecosystem - from design to manufacturing.
Recent Articles
ECN - Dec 4, 2018
Leveraging COTS-Based Test Platforms for Next-Generation ATE Systems
Evaluation Engineering - Oct 26, 2018
Incoming and outgoing presidents chart past and future of PXI Systems Alliance
Evaluation Engineering - Oct 23, 2018
Cost of test still biggest hurdle as newer factors add to challenges
mesures (French) - Oct 1, 2018
GUIDE D'ACHAT: Les logiciels pour le test et le mesure
Evaluation Engineering - Aug 20, 2018
Mil/Aero Test Special Report: Tackling test challenges across multiple programs and generations
Intelligent Aerospace - Jul 19, 2018
Farnborough wrap-up: thoughts and impressions from the 2018 Farnborough International Airshow
Intelligent Aerospace - Jul 18, 2018
Meeting the increasing critical equipment technology needs of warfighters
Evaluation Engineering - Jun 21, 2018
Semiconductor Test Special Report: Scalability, cost, flexibility drive innovation from DC to mmWave
Aerospace & Defense Technology - Jun 1, 2018
Application Brief - Armament Test Set
Press Releases
Oct 22, 2018 MTS to Feature Proven Solutions at 2018 Bahrain International Airshow
Sep 10, 2018 Marvin Test Solutions Marks 30 Years of Making Test Easy
Jul 9, 2018 Marvin Test Solutions Achieves AS9100D Certification
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ATEasy® X Cybersecurity Features
ATEasy® X includes new cybersecurity features to safeguard your mission-critical test programs. New features guard against unauthorized access as well as hacking, code corruption, and malicious changes.
- ATEasy Executable and DLL can be encrypted, providing a way to maintain integrity and preventing modifying (non-repudiation), reverse engineering, or PCode viewing.
- The ATEasy run-time provides protection against call stack parameter mismatch and buffer overrun protection after external DLL call.
- When saved to binary format, ATEasy source files can be encrypted to protect against changes and verify file integrity.
- Program, System and Driver files can be password- or license-protected to limit access to using, viewing or changing the file.
- Automatic versions records to the source files the time and the user making the changes, allowing you to track changes beyond using only the file date.
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