Common Flight Test Module (CFTM)

All DoD aircraft, airborne munitions, and weapon systems are subjected to extensive flight testing. This testing requires a core set of instrumentation onboard the test article, including Time-Space Position Information (TSPI), flight termination (FT), and telemetry (TM) functions. At present, each test article employs a combination of unique modules to support these capabilities. The time and expense to develop, flight-qualify, and maintain these unique modules is enormous, so a common module which provided these standard functions for a variety of test articles would result in substantial improvements in efficiency within the flight test community. The goal of the Subminiature Flight Safety System (SFSS) program is just such a common module. Designing a common module to support weapon system flight testing is a conceptually straightforward task. However, the steady progression toward ever-smaller munitions makes the transition from concept to reality risky. The emergence of new paradigms for some capabilities, such as the two-way telemetry links envisioned for the integrated Network Enhanced Telemetry (iNET) program, adds further complexity and technical risk. The research proposed here will greatly mitigate the technical, cost, and schedule risks associated with the development of future range safety and telemetry systems such as SFSS.