The Indian Head Division, Naval
Surface Warfare Center (IHD NSWC) CAD
Engineering Division is conducting a program to
evaluate the laser and energetic components
which comprise the Canopy Fracturing Initiation
System (CFIS). This system is currently
installed on the T-6A Texan II or JPATS (Joint
Primary Aircraft Training System) aircraft. The
T-6A Texan II is the first aircraft used by the
military to train future pilots. The CFIS is an
element of the pilot emergency escape system
which weakens the canopy in the path of the
ejection seat. The CFIS is comprised of three
differing laser configurations (Internal, External,
and Seat Motion) which generate a pulse that is
distributed through a fiber optic energy
transmission system. This pulse, in turn, initiates
one of the system's explosive components, a
detonator (specifically, the CCU-158/A Laser
Initiated Detonator). This detonator transfers the
signal to the remaining energetic components
that, in turn, function to weaken their respective
canopies. All of the CFIS laser types are
flashlamp-pumped, neodymium glass lasers
which are located at various positions in the
aircraft cockpit area. This paper builds on the
previous SPIE papers (2008 - Conference 7070
and 2009 - Conference 7434, respectively) and
presents the initial functional test results for the
CFIS Laser Detonator. These functional test
results provide the technical support to justify
the useful lifetime of this energetic component
while being installed in the T-6A Texan II
aircraft under operational conditions.
The Indian Head Division, Naval
Surface Warfare Center (IHDIV, NSWC) CAD
Engineering Division is conducting a program to
evaluate the laser components which comprise
the Canopy Fracturing Initiation System (CFIS)
currently installed on the T-6A Texan or JPATS
(Joint Primary Aircraft Training System) aircraft.
The T-6A Texan is the first aircraft used by the
military to train future pilots. The CFIS is an
element of the pilot emergency escape system
which weakens the canopy in the path of the
ejection seat. The CFIS is comprised of three
differing configurations (Internal, External, and
Seat Motion) which generate a laser pulse that is
distributed through a fiber optic energy
transmission system. This pulse, in turn, initiates
explosive components which weaken the
respective canopies. All of the CFIS laser types
are flashlamp-pumped, neodymium glass lasers
which are located at various positions in the
aircraft cockpit area. This paper builds on the
previous 2008 SPIE paper (Conference 7070)
and presents further CAD Engineering Division
test results and analysis which were utilized to
evaluate the functional performance of the three
CFIS laser signal generators after their being
installed fleet applications over a period of time.
The Indian Head Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center (IHDIV, NSWC) CAD
Engineering Division is conducting a program to evaluate the laser components which
comprise the Canopy Fracturing Initiation System (CFIS) currently installed on the T-6A
Texan or JPATS (Joint Primary Aircraft Training System) aircraft. The T-6A Texan is
the first aircraft used by the military to train future pilots. The CFIS is an element of the
pilot emergency escape system which weakens the canopy in the path of the ejection seat.
The CFIS is comprised of three differing configurations (Internal, External, and Seat
Motion) which generate a laser pulse that is distributed through a fiber optic energy
transmission system. This pulse, in turn, initiates explosive components which weaken
the respective canopies. All of the CFIS laser types are flashlamp-pumped, neodymium
glass lasers which are located at various positions in the aircraft cockpit area. This paper
presents the CAD Engineering Division effort to evaluate the functional performance of
the three CCFIS laser signal generators after their being in fleet use for a period of time.
Conference Committee Involvement (3)
Optical Technologies for Arming, Safing, Fuzing, and Firing VI
2 August 2010 | San Diego, California, United States
Optical Technologies for Arming, Safing, Fuzing, and Firing V
5 August 2009 | San Diego, California, United States
Optical Technologies for Arming, Safing, Fuzing, and Firing IV
13 August 2008 | San Diego, California, United States
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