HH/UH-60M, AH-64E, CH-47F: Get Familiar with Fiber Optic Care

BLUF: Deploying units issued fiber optic cables on their aircraft must turn to TM-1-1500-323-24-4 (Aug 12) for their care.

Photo by Charles Rosemond

Initial note: This article applies to deploying or deployed units only.

Aviation maintainers/electricians,

To ensure aircraft are more survivable against threat missiles, the Project Office Aircraft Survivability Equipment installed fiber optics on HH/UH-60M, AH-64E, and CH-47F aircraft, as part of a limited interim missile warning system quick reaction capability (LIMWS QRC). The LIMWS line replaceable units (LRUs) will only be issued to deploying units. When LRUs are removed, fiber optic cables are capped and stowed.

Fiber optics pros include:

Quicker data flow without degradation
Increased band width
Increased stability over longer strands
Greater resistance to electromagnetic interference and corrosion

Fiber optics cons include:

More care required to ensure cable is not damaged
Limited repair capability
Increased acquisition costs

Maintaining fiber optics is not the same as the care given to electrical wiring. While electricians rely on TM 1-1500-323-24-1 (Apr 14), Installation and Repair Practices Aircraft Electric and Electronic Wiring, to maintain copper wiring, they must turn to TM-1-1500-323-24-4 (Aug 12), Installation and Repair Practices Aircraft Fiber Optic Cabling, to maintain aircraft fiber optics.

TM 1-1500-323-24-4 states that about 80 percent of fiber optic maintenance actions can be traced back to a failure to properly clean connection interfaces. Deploying units with fiber installed will receive the required special tools to inspect and clean fiber optics like the diagram shows.