Can Open Architecture Save ATE?

just a thought, but being as tests are getting more complex and technical knowledge bases are getting scarcer isn't it the case that manufacturers are relying on test houses for more than just results, and as this is the case shouldn't the test costs rise?

Due to research and development costs the military has basically footed the bill on a lot of the test equipment and measuring systems that are now available for commercial off the shelf applications. At one time the military had to have a bench full of signal generators, power meters, frequency counters, oscilloscopes, and spectrum analyzers. Now one IFR test set from Aeroflex can satisfy all these test requirements. I recently had the opportunity to evaluate signal generators from Rohde & Schwarz, Anritsu, Agilent, and a few other suppliers. Other than the transponder, weather radar, and collision avoidance system these generators could test any communication and navigation system on either a military, commercial, or privately owned aircraft. TIC manufactures test sets that perform the functions of the transponders, DME, TACAN, TCAS and so forth for ramp checks. Nothing prevents the manufactures from offering these capabilities to the commercial/civilian market. When a person weighs the cost and amount technology now offered against the cost of ten years ago, today's prices and capabilities are an astronomical bargain. As for ATE, yes it started as a military program and requirement that is now being driven by industry for programming and development. A civilian vendor can produce a product faster than the military can write the requirements document, secure congressional funding, and do a source selection process.