A product line of automated test stations that Boeing upgraded with the ability to test high-power radar systems was recently declared ready for fleet introduction by the U.S. Navy.

The Reconfigurable Transportable Consolidated Automated Support System (RTCASS) stations, built and designed by Boeing, are used by U.S. Marine Corps maintainers to diagnose problems with aircraft electronic systems. The upgrade, designated RTCASS-High Power (RTCASS-HP), achieved Initial Operational Capability on June 2.

Boeing is producing 20 RTCASS-HP stations to be deployed at Marine Aviation Logistics Squadron mobile facilities and permanent fleet support locations to enable maintainers to test and troubleshoot electronic systems on the F/A-18 Hornet, AV-8B Harrier and EA-6B Prowler aircraft platforms.

"Achieving Initial Operational Capability is the culmination of an intense yearlong cooperative effort between the Boeing RTCASS team and our U.S. government customers," said Tim Murphy, RTCASS program manager for Boeing.

"With the help and expertise of our government and industry partners, the Boeing team developed an innovative new line of test stations from the design stage through successful fielding in just 12 months. The stations will support our customers' readiness targets and missions for decades to come."

RTCASS-HP includes a government-furnished element known as the High Power Device Test Set (HPDTS). After the HPDTS equipment was separated from legacy test stations, Boeing engineers refurbished and redeployed the equipment as part of the RTCASS-HP solution.

The successful deployment of the new RTCASS test stations with High Power functionality marks another important milestone for Boeing's RTCASS program as the Marine Corps works to replace earlier testers developed by a different company with Boeing-built RTCASS stations that meet the service's increased performance and mobility requirements.

Boeing received a $216 million contract in 2003 to build approximately 140 RTCASS stations. The company delivered the 100th RTCASS station to the Navy in March.