Airborne Instrumentation Advancements and Challenges - Perspective in 2007

“Opportunities” and “Threats” are often viewed as one-in-the-same for a flexible organization when accomplishing a Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats (SWOT) business environment analysis. The business environment for airborne instrumentation continues to be rich in both, due in part to technology, political, and economic forces. This paper touches on recent changes to the airborne instrumentation business environment from an Air Force T&E perspective and provides a snapshot of where we have been and the vision for the way forward. Examples of how we are adapting to the changes in RF spectrum use, solid state technology, standardization, market supplier changes, network applications, and new weapon platform technology are given to aid the test community in meeting the opportunities and threats discerned today that lie ahead.