What is "avionics system"

Integrated avionics system (hereinafter referred to as integrated avionics system) is an important part of modern fighter, and the combat performance of fighter is closely related to avionics system. It can be said that without a high-performance avionics system, it is impossible to have an efficient fighter. The integrated avionics system has been developed for decades under the demand traction and technology promotion, especially in the last decade, which has made remarkable progress and promoted the further improvement of aircraft combat effectiveness. However, at present, there are many shortcomings in the use of integrated avionics system, which need to be improved and perfected urgently. At the same time, the development of operational strategies and methods in 2 1 century also puts forward more challenging requirements for integrated avionics system. Therefore, in the next decade, while solving the problem of economic affordability, the integrated avionics system will still develop in the direction of more integration, informationization, science and technology, modularization and intelligence, and the functions, performance, reliability, maintainability, supportability, testability and comprehensive efficiency of the integrated avionics system will also make breakthroughs. It can be predicted that the level of avionics integration will be continuously improved, and the avionics integration technology will develop in depth and breadth and be continuously improved. 1. The development of avionics system from avionics integration technology to depth and breadth proves that integration is the soul and core of avionics development. Integration can reduce the volume and weight of avionics system, reduce the workload of pilots, improve the reliability of the system and reduce the life cycle cost. The fourth generation fighter F-22, which will serve at the beginning of this century, needs more than 60 antennas as usual. The receivers and transmitters in different operating frequency bands are in their own independent states, and now they have been integrated into more than a dozen antennas, and will continue to be integrated in the next step. The concept of * * * will be adopted in the ongoing Integrated Sensor System (ISS) project, such as antenna aperture, radio frequency, signal processing and digital processing. "Integrated Aperture Sensor System" (IASS) uses 480×680 pixel infrared focal plane array to complete the functions of forward-looking infrared, infrared search and tracking, television camera shooting and so on. "Distributed Aperture Infrared System" (DAIRS) integrates missile approach warning device, infrared search and tracking, forward-looking infrared and other functions into one system. "Integrated Radio Frequency Countermeasure System" (SIRFC) and "Integrated Infrared Countermeasure System" (SIIRCM) combine directional infrared countermeasure with ultraviolet missile early warning. F-22 and EF-2000 aircraft implement the unified control and management of electromechanical system, that is, the so-called public equipment management system, which is incorporated into the unified management and control of integrated avionics system. The next step will be the integration of function and energy, and an integrated system will complete all the functions currently completed by various electromechanical systems. Synthesis is not limited to a single machine, and maximizing the use of off-board information resources will be a prominent feature in the future. Real-time data transmission is carried out between formation aircraft or between electronic warfare aircraft and attack aircraft through data link, for example, the concept of "cooperative combat capability" (CEC) proposed by the US Navy. In addition, it is predicted that by 2020, the mixed formation of manned aircraft and unmanned aircraft will become a reality, and the integrated avionics system on the aircraft will become a node in the integrated three-dimensional network of land, sea and air. The second is the further research and application of the open integrated avionics system structure. Open system architecture is a structural framework defined by open system interface standards. Its advantages are: easy to form a distributed system; Facilitate the interconnection, interoperability and interoperability between computers or other hardware of different models produced by different manufacturers; But also facilitates the transplantation of hardware and software; It is convenient for the enhancement and expansion of system functions. In addition, the open system structure also supports the variable scale of the system, which is conducive to shortening the development cycle. When planning development, procurement, maintenance and update, the cost can be reduced. The reason is that it increases the chances of reuse, makes it easier to use COTS technology, and can quickly build a system model. After adopting this structure, the function expansion and modification of the system and the replacement of components can be well solved. The US Air Force regards the application of military technology and commercial technology to realize the transformation of the system from the traditional closed structure to the economically affordable flexible and open structure as the current challenge. This is because there is a debate about the promotion of open architecture from civilian to military, mainly because it is impossible to give consideration to standards and optimal performance, and some fields cannot fully meet military needs. It is necessary to formulate and implement various standard interfaces so that different product development and production units can follow open and consistent standards and specifications. In addition, the open system architecture involves not only hardware but also software. Open software system, reusable software and variable software scale are as important as the openness of hardware, and they are also important measures to reduce the system life cycle cost and shorten the development cycle. Therefore, the software of the new generation integrated avionics system, including operating system, application program, database, network and man-machine interface, should follow a unified series of standards and specifications, and the reusability, standardization, intelligence, portability, quality and reliability of the software should be included in the characteristic parameters of software technology. Therefore, in the next decade, the transition trend from open industrial standards to military applications will be more obvious, and the transition from open architecture to military applications will be irreversible. Figure 1 shows the open system structure of JSF integrated avionics system introduced by Lockheed Martin. Third, the extensive use of COTS technology In the next decade, the application research of COTS technology will be further strengthened. In order to realize the four indexes of affordability, performance, improvement and reusability, COTS technology will be paid more attention in the new generation integrated avionics system. COTS technology has the following characteristics: special devices, special components or modules, the number of special software, etc. Significantly reduced, thereby reducing scientific research and production costs; Adopt universal and open technical standards, with good compatibility; Advanced technology, in line with the development trend of technology; With good technical support, easy to expand and upgrade, fast product upgrading; It can be purchased directly on the commodity shelves, and the source of goods is guaranteed; Low procurement cost; Short development and production cycle; Product maintenance and logistics support are more convenient, and the maintenance and support cost is low; No special research funds need to be invested. The main purpose of using COTS technology in the structure of integrated avionics system is to reduce the cost. COTS interconnection devices will be widely used in the integrated core processor (ICP) of JSF. It is estimated that the capacity of the processor is one order of magnitude higher than that of the F-22, but the cost is only a fraction of the latter. In addition, with the support of open architecture, commercial products with short update cycle adopt open and consistent civil standards, which is convenient for updating, developing and adopting new technologies. Fourthly, to achieve a high degree of modularity and solve the contradiction that the integrated avionics system adopts open architecture, which not only saves costs but also improves the performance of combat missions. One way is modularity. Modularity is another important feature of the development of integrated avionics system. Modularization is the basis of structural simplification and integration, and it is also the basis of system reconstruction. With the rapid development of integrated circuits and electronic technology, various complete functions have been "condensed" into a standard electronic module. The main feature of modular avionics system is structural stratification. The key to the stratification and integration of system structure is also an important factor affecting the utilization rate of resources. In the top-level design, the hierarchy of architecture must be compromised and weighed. Modularization is for the reconstruction, expansion, modification and maintenance of the system, which can greatly improve the usability and ensure that the aircraft can take off at any time; Generalization is to maximize the use of modules, components and components, reduce varieties and reduce costs. Standard module is the basis of modularization. After the integrated cabinet and standard module are adopted, the field replaceable unit (LRU) is cancelled and the general and standard field replaceable module (LRM) is completely adopted; The whole avionics system is changed from three-level maintenance to two-level maintenance, which simplifies avionics maintenance, reduces maintenance personnel and ground maintenance equipment, realizes delayed maintenance or regular maintenance, and greatly reduces logistics support costs. Because the standard of the module is publicly released, it is very beneficial to cost competition and outdated changes of components. Each standard module consists of several multi-chip modules (MCM) or microwave monolithic integrated circuits (MMIC), and each MCM or MMIC consists of at least dozens of VHSIC and ASIC chips. A system or subsystem can be developed by using general modules, that is, an avionics system with arbitrary functions can be formed by combining general modules. V. Further integration of fighter sensors The integration trend of advanced fighter sensors is developing very rapidly. Judging from the fourth-generation fighter sensors, such as F-22 and JSF, which will be in service at the beginning of this century, it is close at hand to realize the complete integration of airborne sensors. With the increasing variety, quantity, complexity and data volume of sensors in the new generation avionics system, it exceeds the driver's ability to effectively use and manage sensors, thus making sensor synthesis a prominent topic. The objectives of multi-sensor synthesis (MSI) are: to change the discrete state of various sensors at present, to realize mutual supplement and backup, to make full use of the information provided by each sensor; The comprehensive control and management of multiple sensors can be realized, and a sensor system with higher performance than any single sensor can be obtained at the existing hardware and software level. The antenna and RF front-end functions of the sensor system of the US Air Force F-22 fighter are still separated. Radar, RWR/ESM and CNI each have their own antenna and front-end processing functions, which are integrated to complete radar, electronic warfare, CNI and other functions. The "Gemstone Platform" project is mainly to solve the comprehensive problem of sensor area. The equipment in the radar cabin is not a radar in the traditional sense, but an integrated RF system that integrates radar, CNI, electronic warfare, friend-or-foe identification, radio altimeter, missile guidance data link and other functions. The plan proposes to use 13 antenna to provide all the functions required by CNI/ electronic warfare/radar. The aperture of photoelectric sensor, forward-looking infrared, infrared search and tracking system and missile early warning function should also be integrated to realize distributed aperture infrared system (DAIRS). Signal processing and data processing of sensors should also be integrated, using a unified intermediate frequency for processing, pushing A/D conversion to the front end as far as possible, and using standard * * * modules. Complete signal processing and data processing, and then connect to the integrated core processor (CIP) through the unified avionics network, and carry out data fusion in CIP. Sensor control and power management can also be completed through this channel. The comprehensive integration of the sensor field will be a great progress and will gain great benefits in the above aspects. From 20 10 to 2040, the sensor system of JSF fighter attack aircraft equipped with the US Air Force, Navy and their allies will break the boundaries of radar, electronic warfare and other key functions required by future fighters (see Figure 2). This means that the active electronic scanning array (AESA) used for traditional radar tasks such as scanning and tracking targets is also used for jamming, electronic intelligence, communication and other tasks. In addition, the data collected by AESA will be combined with information from airborne data sources (such as early warning aircraft, electronic warfare aircraft and satellites) and airborne photoelectric systems. If two or four JSFs work together, their ability is far stronger than that of the same number of planes working alone. When in trouble, a JSF also has the ability to complete the task independently and survive.