Technology insertion problems and solutions for aging avionics systems

As military budgets shrink, military contractors are under increasing pressure to produce high performance, low cost systems. For new weapons systems, this pressure generally has meant exploiting the economies of scale of standardized, military-approved microprocessor chips. As currently-deployed systems age, an equally great need exists to tap these same economies of scale to extend the useful lives of older defense systems in a cost-effective manner. This paper discusses the design methodology used to upgrade the radar system aboard a tactical fighter plane. In particular, it will concentrate on those techniques used to provide hardware flexibility while meeting the design goal of form, fit, and functional compatibility with the currently fielded radar system.