Rockwell Collins modernizes military test and training ranges to support modern fighter aircraft, secure data link capabilities

CEDAR RAPIDS, Iowa. U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) officials are boosting the common technology test and training infrastructure across multiple, major military ranges, for which they selected Rockwell Collins in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Rockwell Collins won a $21 million contract to support the second production lot of the Common Range Integrated Instrumentation System (CRIIS) for upgrading Air Force, Navy, and Army test ranges for improved operational realism.

The next-generation CRIIS test range instrumentation system will replace legacy range systems, including Advanced Range Data System (ARDS) and Air-to-Air Range Infrastructure (AARI) systems and help complete range installations and activations at Eglin Air Force Base (AFB), Edwards AFB, Naval Air Station (NAS) Patuxent River, White Sands Missile Range, Nellis AFB, Naval Air Weapons Station (NAWS) China Lake, and NAS Point Mugu.

“With multi-level security and data link capabilities, the F-35 and other fighter aircraft will be able to perform several missions in a single day by transferring connectivity to multiple ranges versus a traditional test mission which consists of an exclusive base-to-aircraft data link,” explains Troy Brunk, vice president and general manager of communication, navigation, and electronic warfare solutions for Rockwell Collins. “CRIIS provides much needed technology to modernize our U.S. military ranges.”

The CRIIS program fulfills the DOD’s vision of common test and training infrastructure for improved operational realism by providing real-time tracking of air exercise participants up to approximately 350 nautical miles (line of sight plus relay); accurate time, space, and position information under highly- dynamic aircraft conditions; and an extended area control of air, land, and sea participants. It also offers an open architecture design to support range flexibility; multiple independent levels of security (MILS) architecture; standardization of interface protocols, including test and training enabling architecture; software-defined radio for waveform and frequency agility; and synthetic threat and force support.

The CRIIS system will support developmental and operational testing with the named test ranges, and is ready to support F-15, F-16, F/A-18, F-22, and F-35 military aircraft in live, virtual and constructive test scenarios.

An F-35 stationed at Edwards AFB can take off in the morning, fly to White Sands Missile Range for range-specific testing, and then continue on to Nellis AFB, NAWS China Lake, the sea range located at NAS Pt. Mugu, and return to Edwards AFB at the end of the day -- all while transferring its data connection securely to each range system.

Production work will be performed at Rockwell Collins facilities in Richardson, Texas, and Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

Rockwell Collins develops and deploys aviation and high-integrity solutions for both commercial and government applications. The company delivers flight deck avionics, cabin electronics, mission communications, simulation and training, and information management by a global workforce and a service and support network that crosses more than 150 countries.

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