BAE Systems, Marvin Test boost operational readiness of U.S. Air Force bomber fleet weapon systems

IRVINE, Calif. BAE Systems engineers in Arlington, Virginia, designing, developing, manufacturing, and sustaining the Bomber Armament Tester (BAT) system for the U.S. Air Force bomber fleet, under a $64 million Air Force contract extending through 2027, are partnering with Marvin Test Solutions in Irvine, California, to test and ensure the operational readiness of bomb ejector racks, rotary launchers, and pylon assemblies onboard B-1B, B-2A, and B-52H aircraft.

The U.S. Air Force contract provides for engineering and manufacturing development of 90 BAT systems, which will be delivered in three increments over the next nine years. Work on the program will be performed primarily at BAE Systems’ facilities in San Diego, California, and Fort Worth, Texas.

The BAT will be the U.S. Air Force’s common armament tester for the B-1B, B-2A, and B-52H, supporting flightline and intermediate-level testing of all bomb ejector racks, rotary launchers, and pylon assemblies used by the Nation’s bomber fleet.

The Air Force contract to BAE Systems supports a research and development (R&D) effort to design, develop, integrate, test, manufacture, and sustain a common tester for armament systems on the B-2A, B-1B, and B-52H platforms capable of testing on-aircraft Stores Management Systems, and Line Replaceable Units both on-and off-aircraft. The Bomber Armament Tester (BAT) System shall include a core tester common to all three platforms and Test Program Sets (TPSs) that are platform-specific.

"The BAT system provides critical verification that the aircraft’s weapon systems are operating as specified,” says Kevin Malone, vice president of analytics systems at BAE Systems. “Our team, which includes Marvin Test Solutions and the Air Force Air Logistics Complexes, has extensive experience developing flight line qualified armament testers and test program sets.”

Marvin Test Solutions (MTS) Inc., a provider of test solutions for military, aerospace, and manufacturing organizations, is a member of the BAE Systems-led team on the BAT program. MTS will be a significant provider of hardware, software, and design support for the BAT Core Tester.

“We are proud to be a part of this outstanding team supporting the warfighter ensuring operational readiness of these mission-critical aircraft,” says Major General Stephen T. Sargeant, USAF (Ret.), CEO of Marvin Test Solutions. “Our experience in developing mil/aero test solutions and specifically in portable armament test sets enabled us to partner on this program. We look forward to working closely with BAE Systems and the Air Force Air Logistics Complexes to make the program a success.”

BAE Systems has designed and manufactured comprehensive test solutions for military and commercial applications for more than 40 years. The company provides system testers for more than 3,000 F-16 aircraft flying today. Fielded in 23 countries, BAE Systems testers provide organizational, intermediate, and depot-level support for displays; flight and fire controls; radars; communications; and electronic warfare, stores management, pre-launch, and diagnostic systems.

Marvin Test Solutions, a vertically integrated aerospace test and measurement company, has delivered innovative, feature-rich test solutions for factory, flightline, intermediate-level, and depot-level applications since 1988. As a member of The Marvin Group, an award-winning aerospace company with a 50-year history in the Defense and Commercial Aerospace industries, Marvin Test Solutions has test equipment deployed in support of most of the major defense aircraft and munitions in use around the world. Marvin Test Solutions delivers full-spectrum, successful test solutions – making test, maintenance, and sustainment of the most mission-critical systems easier and faster.

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