REDSTONE ARSENAL, Ala. – U.S. Army test and measurement experts needed a battery-operated handheld spectrum analyzer for communications and weapons testing. They found their solution from Keysight Technologies Inc. in Colorado Springs, Colo.
Officials of the Army Contracting Command at Redstone Arsenal, Ala., announced a $28.6 million five-year contract to Keysight on Thursday to design and build the CM-523/U battery-operated handheld spectrum analyzer.
The CM-523/U spectrum analyzer from Keysight will measure input signals at ranges between 9 kHz and 26.5 GHz in support of Army avionics, missiles, ordnance, and signals equipment.
This procurement is part of the Army Test Equipment Modernization (TEMOD) program to standardize the Army inventory and replace existing obsolete test equipment. The CM-523/U will replace the Army's AN/USM-677 spectrum analyzer.
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The commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) CM-523/U will receive support from the Army's standard two-level maintenance in MIL-STD40051-2 and Army Regulation 750-1.
It will have a high-resolution liquid crystal display, and will RG-58 coaxial cable, BNC connectors, antenna adapters, and Universal Serial Bus protocol to connect with supported systems. It will operate on DC and AC power.
While in battery mode, the CM-523/U will be able to operate for three to four hours before recharging, and soldiers will be able to operate the test and measurement system while wearing cold-weather or nuclear, biological, and chemical protection equipment.
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The spectrum analyzer will weight no more than nine pounds, and with transport case will weigh no more than 35 pounds. The device will operate in temperatures from 0 to 55 degrees Celsius, and operate for 2,700 hours mean time between failures.
Keysight today manufactures the FieldFox handheld RF and microwave analyzers. The N9918B has a frequency range of 30 kHz to 26.5 GHz, and has a rechargable lithium-ion battery. It retails for $35,567.
On this contract Keysight will do the work at sites to be determined with each order, and should be finished by January 2028. For more information contact Keysight Technologies online at www.keysight.com, or the Army Contracting Command-Redstone at https://acc.army.mil/contractingcenters/acc-rsa/.
