CASS Assessment: Future Requirements for Aircraft Carriers

The Consolidated Automated Support System (CASS) is a computerized Automatic Test Equipment (ATE) system that is currently being fielded by the Department of the Navy. Over the next several years, CASS will replace many existing ATE systems and help the Navy standardize test and training procedures. The Director of the Navy's Air Warfare Division (N88) and the Support Equipment Office (PMA-260) asked CNA to review the Navy's current plans for CASS implementation within the fleet. Among other things, these plans call for the phased integration of CASS into carrier Aircraft Intermediate Maintenance Departments (AIMDs). This paper is part of our workload assessment of these plans for carrier AIMDs. Our sponsors wanted answers to two questions: (1) how many (total) CASS stations do carrier AIMDs need?; and (2) more specifically, how many of each type of CASS do they need? In a previous analysis, we explored these questions for CASS support of existing weapons systems only. In this paper, we expand on that analysis by including CASS support of emerging weapons systems as well.