PROGRAMMABLE TELEMETRY TEST SYSTEM

Abstract

The U.S. Navy has traditionally operated several missile ranges around the world. However, as the exercises it conducts require greater areas and improved security, it has taken the more ambitious exercises to open ocean, away from ranges. Portable shipboard Telemetry Receiving Systems are designed based on similar methods to those used by range system designers. However, the portable field station must be very small (less then 600 lbs) and system designers are hard pressed to include sophisticated hardware to offset the lower performance of light weight front ends. After the design stage, it is always found that no further weight or volume may be allocated to test equipment. The result has been to practice exercising the live round (missile) for the purpose of testing the ground station. This Test System was designed to meet a need for a portable system to test shipboard telemetry systems used for evaluating performance of missile systems in the surface missile fleet. The technical information presented describes the capabilities of a small test system that is programmable to accurately simulate any missile in the current Navy inventory. It provides test and calibration signals so that telemetry system status may be verified, giving the field operator unprecedented confidence in the station’s condition. The Programmable RT Test System is a product of Navy’s Engineering Initiative Program which supports limited engineering efforts designed to enhance service to the fleet.