Flight stimulator

has won a $19.8 million award from

to supply a Communication Navigation and Identification Function Stimulator (CFS) for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter (JSF).

Lockheed Martin will add the new ViaSat system to its Mission System Integration Lab in Fort Worth, Texas where avionics system integration is proceeding in preparation for the first flight of the F-35.

RF stimulators produce a variety of simultaneous signals that simulate a communications environment for testing communication, navigation, identification, and weapon system devices.

Even after each individual subsystem is tested, the interaction of all equipment on board the aircraft can create additional problems in avionics systems as they select and process the desired signals.

Measuring total system performance is possible only in the presence of complex time-varying radio frequency (RF) stimulation that tests not only the equipment, but the operational procedures to respond to various tactical situations as well.

"The CFS is similar to the Joint Communication Simulators we supplied to the Air Force and Navy," said Mike Kocin, business area director for RF Simulation at ViaSat. "But our latest system designs take advantage of the most advanced electronics architectures and incorporate the latest high-speed processors for higher performance."

As a result the system can respond to operator commands in one-fifth the time and support a much denser signal environment as well. The new ViaSat stimulation system design is also more modular to accommodate large or small RF simulation requirements.

The F-35 is a next-generation, supersonic, multi-role stealth aircraft designed to replace the AV-8B Harrier, A-10, F-16, F/A-18 Hornet and

’s Harrier GR.7 and Sea Harrier.