Mudbucket JDIGS/STIL Block II H-60 Award

December 7th, 2011

The Joint Distributed Infrared Counter Measure (IRCM) Ground-Test System (JDIGS) program management team, comprised of members from the Air Combat Environment Test and Evaluation Facility (ACETEF) at the Naval Air Station in Patuxent River and the Aviation Systems Test and Integration Lab (AvSTIL) at the Redstone Test Center (RTC) in Redstone Arsenal, has awarded CTSi a $379k delivery order for two Mudbucket systems. The Mudbucket will be employed as a generic bus controller and translator to create the flight representative navigation traffic on the data busses of several military rotorcraft required to implement the JDIGS capability at ACTEF and the AvSTIL. Under the JDIGS base effort, CTSi will provide two complete Mudbucket lab systems, platform and facility integration products and services, training, and support. CH-47, AH-64, MV-22, and MH-60 transparent navigation overdrive to support JDIGS testing will be included in the Mudbucket delivery. Army PM Instrumentation, Targets, and Threat Simulators (PM-ITTS) has also awarded CTSi a $187k SBIR Phase III contract for software development, and integration products and support for UH-60 testing and integration into the Block II AvSTIL. The AvSTIL Block II UH-60 effort will leverage the JDIGS delivered capabilities. Mudbucket was originally conceived as the Multiplex Data Bus Controller Translator Transmitter (MDBCTT) Army SBIR A06-086 lead by PM-ITTS and the Army Aviation Flight Test Directorate (AFTD). After several years as a successful SBIR research and development (R&D) project, the JDIGS order is the first SBIR Phase III sale not directly tied as matching funding to a corresponding SBIR R&D contract.