Data Fusion of Maintainability Analysis of a Military Aircraft Modernization Project

Abstract

For military Airborne Early Warning and Control (AEW&C) aircraft undergoing system modernization, this study explores the use of data fusion models, particularly Kalman filtering, to forecast maintainability parameters in modernization of communication systems with different alternatives. sThese parameters are used to compare with legacy communication system values to be compared. Mean Time to Repair (MTTR), the crucial maintainability statistic once mission equipment is modified or replaced, is the subject of the study. Accurate maintainability projection for updated Airborne Early Warning & Control (AEW&C) systems is crucial for operational mission success and sustainability as military operations rely more and more on cutting-edge technology. The approach estimates maintainability characteristics for freshly manufactured equipment without past failure data by utilizing engineering evaluations, manufacturer data, and maintenance records via a Bayesian filtering framework. Data from the Peace Eagle (E-7T) modernization project is used to validate the method by contrasting several options for equipment purchasing. The findings show that data fusion based on Kalman filters yields accurate maintainability predictions that meet system requirements and allow for quantitative comparison of various modernization strategies.