Selection of structural design for electronic warfare system
Abstract
Avionics should be of high reliability. First, it is the case of new generation aircraft avionics including electronic warfare systems. Structural aspects are the most important and require particular attention concerning reliability of avionics. The aim of the work is to develop a method of design of electronic warfare system, providing the required level of its reliability. Selection of structural design for on-board microwave devices was done. Modular option to implement electronics for electronic warfare systems was proposed. Integration of miscellaneous devices in a single multilayer printed circuit board was admitted as the most advanced trend to develop on-board microwave equipment for facilities of electronic warfare system. Such an integration of microwave and digital equipment demanded a new approach to making interconnected analog-to-digital microwave modules using the most advanced technical solutions and hardware components in both microwave, digital systems and software. Composition of modular platform and unit of interconnected modules is described. Construction options for interconnected modules are considered. A brief description of the unit is given. Features of VPX standard are reviewed. 3U format is recommended as basic unit format providing the best heat sink. Uniform architecture for EW systems was recommended to implement the equipment as per selected standard. The unit reliability evaluation is presented as per test results. Conducted tests of key devices for ECM facility testified that selected structural design made it possible to increase time before failure by 1.6 times compared with the previous project.
