A Method for Evaluating KC-135 Avionics Configurations

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A Method for Evaluating KC-135 Avionics Configurations

J. R. Jerabek

The KC/C-135 Avionics Modernization Program is currently tasked with determining the feasibility of replacing the KC/C-135 navigator with cost effective avionics systems. The Avionics Evaluation Program (AEP) is a computer model that has been built to evaluate the mission impact caused by alternate avionics hardware configurations. Although the AEP was designed to model tactical aircraft missions, this thesis examines whether it could be applied to the strategic mission of the KC-135. Aircraft performance data, hardware reliability data, and abort logic criteria were input into the model. A baseline simulation was conducted using the current KC-135 configuration. Two additional configurations, single inertial navigation systems (INS) with a navigator and dual INS without a navigator, were selected and simulations conducted. These simulations were conducted with both peacetime and wartime mission scenariors. An analysis of the AEP output data revealed that the addition of a single INS produced a significant improvement in Navigatinal Accuracy and that by replacing the navigator with a second INS, navigational accuracy could be maintained without a change in the mission success rate.