The CMA program: An example of support and service at the customer's air base using LM-STAR®

Selex ES, a Finmeccanica Company, is responsible for the support service at the second level of maintenance (ML2) for most avionic systems of European Fighter Aircraft (EFA). For the Italian Air Force, the support service is performed directly at the Air Force Operative Base through the Avionic Maintenance Center (CMA). This support service model is being expanded as its effectiveness has been widely demonstrated. Selex ES has designed Test Program Sets (TPS) and is now providing this service using LM-STAR® for the Automatic Test Equipment (ATE). This approach will assure the availability and airworthiness of Eurofighter avionics subsystems (Armament, Display, Flight Controls, General Utility, Monitoring, Navigation, etc.). During the TPS development/integration phases and after extensive use of the fielded TPSs at the Avionic Center, Selex ES submitted to Lockheed Martin several proposals for new requirements that will ensure high capability mission rates. Simultaneously, additional new requirements from military customers of other nations have been received. The intent of these requirements is to re-use parts of the same TPSs developed on the LM-STAR®, with the ultimate goal being the re-host of legacy TPSs developed with different test equipment onto LM-STAR®. We will highlight the reasons and the advantages to choose the LM-STAR as standard test platform for ML2, in particular the high maintenance efficiency, the significant reductions in lifetime operating cost and the satisfaction of customers for this time effective support service. Our approach to supporting a complex international program will be examined.