Lifecycle Sustainment | Torch Technologies

Torch Partners with Government-Industry

Torch maintains membership in the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP). GIDEP is a cooperative activity between government and industry participants seeking to reduce or eliminate expenditures of resources by sharing technical information essential during research, design, development, production, and operational phases of the life cycle of systems, facilities, and equipment. Torch also maintains certification in the Defense Logistics Agency (DLA) Joint Certification Program (JCP).

Diagnostic Systems Expertise

Automated Test Equipment

Torch provides solutions to address both at-platform and off-platform Automated Test Equipment (ATE). Our team develops and fields depot-level ATE as well as Test Program Sets (TPS) for standardized test systems. Our goals are to:

Minimize the Cost of Automatic Testing
Foster Interoperability of Automatic Test Systems
Reduce the Logistics Footprint
Improve the Quality of Tests by Leveraging Embedded Diagnostic Data

Our test team has decades of ATE experience and applies best practices to select test solutions that are tailored for each customer’s unique requirements.

We develop COTS-based qualified test solutions by mapping test requirements to instrumentation and packaging those into a right-size and right-cost solution. We perform make-buy decisions and recommend instrumentation suites that encompass PXI, VXI, LXI solutions.

Testing Equipment and Diagnostics

Our test equipment and diagnostic systems expertise spans aviation systems, weapon systems, ground systems, maritime systems, sensors, and support equipment. Torch offers expertise in integration with both analog and digital equipment to include MIL-STD-1553, ARINC 429, and numerous OEM and industry standard bus protocols.

No system is complete without documentation. Our technical documentation team produces and delivers high quality MIL-STD technical data (TDPs, TMs, RPSTLs, etc.) and instructions (DMWRs, MWOs, etc.) needed to fully implement our customers’ organic test and repair solutions..

LIFE CYCLE SUSTAINMENT

Proactive Lifecycle Support

As a result of continuing fiscal constraints, today’s warfighter systems are often in use decades beyond their planned lifecycle. Rapid advancement in commercial technology impacts production and planned sustainment support for critical weapons platforms. Many new systems in development experience obsolescence issues prior to reaching Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP). Torch provides a wide range of proactive services to help warfighter programs manage risk associated with lifecycle sustainment.

The key to managing obsolescence is to identify risks early enough to plan and budget for cost-effective long-term solutions. Utilizing the Multifunctional Obsolescence Resolution Environment (MORE) database in conjunction with commercially available research tools, Torch provides continuous monitoring of components and assemblies that enable proactive management of obsolescence. Torch and the Government customer team with DoD Program Offices and OEMs to develop plans that mitigate obsolescence before it occurs. Typical mitigation strategies include End-of-Life buys, redesigns or qualifying an alternate part.

Repair programs allow customers to sustain an existing, limited supply of parts until newer replacement parts become available. Torch engineers devise organic depot and unit level test systems and repair procedures. Torch develops and validates all the necessary MIL-STD documentation required for depot and unit-level repairs, such as Technical Manuals (TM), Maintenance Work Orders (MWO), and Depot Maintenance Work Requirements (DMWR). Torch delivers comprehensive Technical Data Packages (TDP) and TDP updates to the Government.

Re-Design A form-fit-function re-design is beneficial when parts have been abandoned by the OEM or in instances where parts are failing at an uneconomical rate. Torch can characterize performance characteristics using lab testing or through part research to develop a complete form-fit-function replacement part. When performing a re-design effort, Torch develops and delivers complete TDPs, TMs, and other MIL-STD documentation to the customer needed for future procurement, production, and sustainment of the replacement.

Counterfeit parts pose critical safety issues to the Warfighter and cost concerns to the DoD. Defense electronics represent only a small portion of the overall electronics market. Factors such as part availability, long lead times, stringent DoD performance requirements, foreign foundries, and cost drivers can all lead to insertion of counterfeit parts in the supply chain. This may involve re-marking or re-packaging stolen or non-working parts or insertion of unapproved substitutions. Torch works with the Government to closely monitor the pedigree of part suppliers.