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Advanced Research Electromagnetic Simulation (ARES) Operation and Maintenance Services
EG&G was responsible for daily system operations including equipment preparation, test conduct, instrumentation, data acquisition, and data security in support of the Advanced Research Electromagnetic Simulation (ARES) facility. We participated in test planning and performed preventive maintenance, troubleshooting, repair, calibration, and reporting.

Tasks included basic facility maintenance, including inspection and repair of the ground plane, antenna, dielectric missile test stand, emergency power generator, the Data Acquisition and Calibration Center, and the pulser building. EG&G was responsible for equipment maintenance, calibration, modification, and characterization in order to maintain a state of readiness for testing. This included all special test equipment, fiber optic data links, CW and direct drive equipment, the ARES pulser, and the data acquisition system.

System/Facility Planning - EG&G prepared facility management plans for ARES, including budgets and schedules. We coordinated the requirements of different customer programs. EG&G established overall facility technical requirements based on customer directives and maintained facility maintenance and configuration records for system life cycle support.

Weapons System Hardening - Site personnel analyzed test results to evaluate vulnerabilities of systems being tested, and recommended actions for mitigation of susceptibilities based on theoretical knowledge and extensive EMP experience.

Simulation Planning, Design, and Integration - EG&G rewrote the ARES User Manual and the ARES Pulser Operation and Maintenance Manual. EG&G also added wide-band fiber optic data links, made modifications to accommodate CW testing, and upgraded data processing software. Ultimately, the ARES facility was the most capable EM facility in existence at the time.

Test Planning - EG&G personnel participated in test planning based on each test's specific requirements. We established equipment and material lists, and test support requirements. We coordinated logistics of providing all necessary equipment, material, and support for each test. EG&G recommended test data points for specific test requirements and defined the test configuration. We established standard operating procedures, quality assurance procedures, prepared hazard analyses, and wrote safety plans.

Test Support - EG&G operated all equipment during test conduct. Our personnel obtained all necessary equipment and supplies in time to support the test, performed all system maintenance and pre-test checkouts, and set up the test configurations. We supported the customer's test manager/director during test conduct. We conducted the tests, analyzed test results, and wrote test reports.

Test Reporting and Data Analysis - On-site EG&G personnel ensured quality of data collection. Following test conduct, we analyzed test data and evaluated vulnerability, including computational work to complete assessment.

Material - Provided all materials for site upkeep, maintenance and repair of test system equipment, test conduct, and other ARES facility requirements.

Technical Library and Documentation/Performance Quality Control - EG&G maintained the on-site test data and documentation library to ensure data integrity. We also converted the R-Base library management system to MS Access, the customer's standard database application.