The Benefield Anechoic Facility provides a “virtual open-air range within four walls and ceiling.”
As the interesting video in this post shows, the largest anechoic chamber in the world just got even better.
In fact, according to the US Air Force news release, the Benefield Anechoic Facility (BAF) on Edwards Air Force Base (AFB), California, recently underwent an upgrade to its massive turntable system to ensure they are able to continue to provide unparalleled testing services for the warfighter well into the future.
The BAF provides a “virtual open-air range (OAR) within four walls and ceiling.” It is capable of supporting and handling virtually all Department of Defense (DoD) aircraft, with very few exceptions, to test their radio frequency (RF) systems for wide-ranging EMS installed systems test. The primary purpose the BAF serves is the test and integration of avionics systems in a secure, controlled, and repeatable electromagnetically controlled free-space environment, using state-of-the-art simulation and stimulation technology, that closely duplicates the real combat mission environment.
At the BAF, the 772 Test Squadron provides comprehensive systems and test engineering applied to the developmental T&E of military and commercial RF systems.
The BAF has a highly sophisticated Combat Electromagnetic Environment Simulator (CEESIM). Virtually any RF threat system or friendly RF emitter can be generated for free-space radiation (or direct injection) – offering the most cost-effective means of testing and validating effectiveness of sophisticated Electronic Warfare (EW)/Information Operations (I/O) systems (RWR, ESM, ECM, ELINT, SIGINT, Radar and other RF systems) against today’s threats and emerging threats not yet available at open-air ranges.
Photo credit: U.S. Air Force
