THE EC-18B ARIA: AIRBORNE TELEMETRY AND REENTRY VEHICLE SCORING COMBINED

Abstract

The 4950th Test Wing, at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, is converting four Boeing 707-320C aircraft into EC-18B Advanced Range Instrumentation Aircraft (ARIA). In addition to the antenna and electronic equipment required to collect telemetry data in support of NASA and DOD space and missile programs, the EC-18B will be equipped with a Sonobuoy Missile Impact Location System (SMILS), an optics system, and a meteorological sampling system. Once these systems are added, the EC-18B ARIA will be the most versatile and capable airborne mobile instrumentation platform in the world. They will be able to collect telemetry data from various space and missile systems; acoustically determine the geodetic impact point of reentry vehicles at any location; obtain photographic and video data from reentry vehicles as they pass through the earth’s atmosphere; and provide local atmospheric data in support of worldwide US ballistic missile tests through the year 2000 and beyond.