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| Marine using eCASS system. Photo: Lockheed Martin |
[Avionics Today 01-22-2015] Lockheed Martin has delivered the first electronic Consolidated Automated Support System (eCASS) to the United States Navy for maximizing aircraft readiness. Sailors and marines will use eCASS to troubleshoot and repair naval aircraft electronic components at sea and ashore, which aims to allow them to return aircraft to operational status quickly and efficiently. The Navy expects to deploy eCASS on every U.S. aircraft carrier and at its Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Depots.
“With eCASS, the Department of the Navy will enable a cost avoidance of more than $1 billion annually by averting the repair of avionics at the next level of maintenance or sending the parts back to the original equipment manufacturer,” said Chris Giggey, deputy program manager for automated test systems at the U.S. Navy Naval Air Systems Command.
Currently, the Navy has ordered 38 eCASS stations and is gearing up to purchase an additional 29. The Navy ultimately plans to field 341 of these stations.