A prognostics and health management (PHM) system is the focus of attention in the Defense Acquisition University’s LOG 201 Intermediate Acquisition Logistics course. LOG 201 is a one-week case-based course required for Level II certification in the Department of Defense Life-cycle Logistics career field, as required by the Defense Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act (DAWIA). In this hypothetical case, the PHM System is to be embedded in the Strike Talon Unmanned Combat Aircraft System for use by the United States Air Force and Navy.
This paper describes the Strike Talon users’ requirements for a PHM system, a market investigation to determine if usable PHM monitoring equipment is already available, and ultimate development and testing of a PHM system, which would precede a decision to produce the Strike Talon. It is the authors' intent to provide the reader with a sense of how a PHM capability may be acquired for a new unmanned combat aircraft system and how acquisition personnel could be acquainted with the impact PHM has on a system.