US Air Force adding weapon systems to Enhanced Reliability Centered Maintenance effort

The US Air Force (USAF) is adding 12 weapon systems to its Enhanced Reliability Centered Maintenance (ERCM) effort that uses artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning to better understand part failure rates.

USAF spokesperson Laura McAndrews said on 13 July that these additional platforms are the Boeing F-15 Eagle fighter, the Lockheed Martin AC/MC-130 special mission aircraft, the Boeing B-52H Stratofortress heavy bomber, the Boeing C-17A Globemaster III transport aircraft, the Boeing RC-135 family of multi-mission aircraft, the Bell-Boeing CV-22 Osprey tiltrotor, and the Sikorsky HH-60 Pave Hawk combat search and rescue (CSAR) helicopter.

An A-10C flies above the US Central Command area of responsibility on 17 January. The USAF is adding the platform to its ERCM effort that uses AI and machine learning to better understand part failure rates. (US Air Force)

The USAF is also adding to ECRM the General Atomics Aeronautical Systems Inc (GA-ASI) MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), the Lockheed Martin F-16 Fighting Falcon, the Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), the Northrop Grumman RQ-4 Global Hawk UAV, and the Fairchild Republic A-10 Thunderbolt II close-air support aircraft. The service wants these 12 platforms to be part of ERCM by the end of 2020.

Lieutenant General Warren Berry, deputy chief of staff for logistics, engineering, and force protection, said on 9 July that ERCM layers AI and machine learning on top of the USAF’s maintenance information system data that it uses to identify when parts are likely to fail. Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) is a process to establish the safe minimum levels of maintenance while ensuring equipment continues to perform its design function with the current operating context.