NEWARK, Del. (September 16, 2020) — W. L. Gore & Associates announced today that its GORE® PHASEFLEX® Microwave/RF Test Assemblies were recognized among the 2020 Military & Aerospace Electronics Innovators Awards. An esteemed and experienced panel of judges from the aerospace and defense community recognized Gore as a Gold honoree. These assemblies are being recognized for their durability and reliability for precision testing of electronic warfare (EW) / radar suites; electronic surveillance/countermeasures; radar warning systems; missile approach warning systems; and navigation/communication systems.

These test environments are complex settings filled with electronic components and there is a necessity to make accurate and reliable microwave/RF measurements. The reliability of the test system is crucial, and the microwave/RF test cable assemblies are a critical piece. GORE PHASEFLEX Microwave/RF Test Assemblies are the lifeline between the test equipment and the mission-critical systems under test. The ability to reliably deliver precision measurements for mission-critical applications such as radar, EW and C4ISR suites in military aircraft is essential.

Making accurate and reliable measurements requires microwave/RF cable assemblies that can be used in a controlled test lab and also in the field, directly on the aircraft flight-line test system. GORE PHASEFLEX Microwave/RF Test Assemblies meet rigorous environmental challenges including temperature changes, moisture, shock, vibration, mechanical stress and flexure. These cables endure constant coiling and uncoiling as well as being dragged, pulled, stepped on or even run over by carts. They have survived sharp edges, hinges, fuel, water and hydraulic fluids. In addition, during this exposure, these cables can be routed to, over, under and through the aircraft to connect to the device under test (DUT) without harm. They are available with assembly lengths up to 120 feet, which is also necessary to reach many systems on the aircraft.

"On behalf of the Military & Aerospace Electronics Innovators Awards, I would like to congratulate Gore on their Gold–level honoree status," said Military & Aerospace Electronics Editor-in-Chief John Keller. "This competitive program allows Military & Aerospace Electronics to celebrate and recognize the most innovative products impacting the aerospace and defense community this year."

"You can’t trust the product performance if you can't trust the test results. Testing must identify problem components and detect performance issues which may lead to intermittent failures in theater,” said Gore’s product specialist Chris Ericksen. "For example, when a pilot has identified a unit that has failed, the maintainer runs a check from inside the cockpit. If this self-test indicates a bad module or component, the technician will replace it as part of the troubleshooting process. However, that component may not have actually failed. The problem could be with the test cable assembly and not the DUT itself. This can create a multitude of problems including replacing a perfectly good component (swaptronics), taking an aircraft off the flight schedule for longer than necessary, and wasting valuable troubleshooting time. The reliable electrical performance of our cables makes troubleshooting easier, faster, more efficient and, most importantly, more accurate. If test equipment issues are suspected, often it's due to the cable assembly, not the testing unit itself. And if you are testing with an inferior cable, you could be clearing aircraft for flight with components/systems that are out of spec. Alternatively, you may be delaying flights and missions even though the components/systems are in-spec. The test cable isn’t going to impact the capability of the system under test, but it will allow you to get an accurate and reliable representation of that system."

"We have been making RF cables for over 40 years. Within the last few years there has certainly been an increase of RF cable suppliers. Some even trying to make their cables look like ours. This really speaks to how much these assemblies are valued," said Gore's product specialist Chris Ericksen. "Also, we have heard from customers that these assemblies have proven to be long-lasting providing precise and repeatable measurements which decreases their total operating cost by reducing cable replacements, retesting and recalibration. Our customers have shared that most of the alternative RF cables fail within one year leading to the need to constantly replace them. In critical Aerospace & Defense testing environments this is unacceptable and introduces serious questions around test data reliability/integrity."

Military & Aerospace Electronics is the leading media resource serving program and project managers, engineering managers, and engineers involved in electronic and electro-optic design for military, space, and aviation applications. Military & Aerospace Electronics magazine delivers time-sensitive news, in-depth analyses, case studies, and real-world applications of new products, industry opinion, and the latest trends in the use of mil-spec, rugged and commercial off-the-shelf components, subsystems, and systems.

W. L. Gore & Associates is a global materials science company dedicated to transforming industries and improving lives. Since 1958, Gore has solved complex technical challenges in demanding environments — from outer space to the world’s highest peaks to the inner workings of the human body. With more than 10,500 Associates and a strong, team-oriented culture, Gore generates annual revenues of $3.7 billion.

Adam Konowe
TMP Worldwide
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Jennifer Haupt
W. L. Gore & Associates
+1 302 545 6059
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