In February 1987, an avionics test system which was part of a half-billion dollar replacement program went on line at Plattsburgh AFB. The state-of-the-art test system was officially accepted from the San Antonio Air Logistics Center by Col. C. Jerome Jones, wing commander at PAFB, and Maj. Gen. John J. Doran, Strategic Air Command deputy chief of staff for logistics. According to Capt. Alan C. Gregory, chief of the Public Affairs Division at the base, it was an honor that the first of the new systems was placed at Plattsburgh AFB. The fact that the 380th Avionics Maintenance Squadron was an award-winning squadron came into play in the selection of Plattsburgh getting the first unit.

The F/FB-111 Avionics Intermediate Shop Replacement (AIS) equipment was developed, under contract, by Westinghouse Integrated Logistics Support Division. The project was started in 1982 and is the first new test system to be developed since the swing-wing fighter bomber entered the Air Force inventory 22 years ago. What the new system did was to test computer, video, radio frequency and electronic warfare systems of the F-111s, EF-111s and FB-111s. According to Air Force officials at the time, the F/FB-111s were unique because they were the only aircraft in the Air Force capable of deep-strike, night and all-weather missions. The AIS made it possible for Plattsburgh AFB to test and repair the equipment that kept the aircraft flying and mission-ready right at PAFB. Under the old system, components had to be sent out to various contractors or depot repair facilities. According to Air Force officials, that was a piecemeal operation that did not always identify the whole problem. This new system also reduced the number of spare avionics systems that had to be kept on hand because the systems were not returned to service in a minimum amount of time. The biggest advantage was the decrease in repair time, because of the advanced testing and the ability to do work the on site.

Col. Dick Evans, commander of the 380th Avionics Maintenance Squadron, said the new system was also adaptable to modifications and modernizations planned for the FB-111. The new test systems were replacing 292 old stations at bases throughout the world that had F-111s.