Webcast - 23 July 2015

Test & Measurement Trends for Aerospace and Defense

John Hansen

Keysight Technologies

Page Agenda

The Aerospace & Defense / Test & Measurement Ecosystem

A coming renaissance for the military and defense industry

Aerospace and defense spending

New T & M Demands from the Industry

Testing Array Antennas

The Move into mm Wave

Renaissance in Electronic Warfare (EW) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)

The Effect of NewSpace on Satellite Technologies

Mixed Signal Test for AD Applications

Radar Target Simulation Requires Cost Effective Tools

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Aerospace & Defense Breakdown for Electronic Test & Measurement

ISR = Intelligence, Surveillance & Reconnaissance

IFF = Identification, Friend or Foe

C4 = Command, Control, Communications, Computers

IED = Improvised Explosive Device

LMR = Land Mobile Radio (included due to similarity with MilCom)

Electronic

Warfare (EW)

Surveillance (ISR) &

SIGINT Test & Operational

RADAR

MilCom (C4)

& LMR

Military terrestrial communications Public safety and private mobile radio

Satellite communications/ Ground segment

Navigation &

Identification Satellite

Defense & Commercial

IFF Systems Avionics;

GNSS; inertial guidance

ATC; weather; automotive

Search; track; fire control; guidance Imaging; mapping; geo-location; GMTI

Wall & ground penetrating Law enforcement; security

Altimeter; terrain following; autopilot Physical Surveillance

EA = Electronic Attack

EP = Electronic Protection

ES = Electronic Support

ATC = Air Traffic Control

GMTI = Ground Moving Target Indicator

Radar threat & communications jamming (EA)

Spectrum control; Cyber security Electronic support (ES)

Self protection; radar warning (EP) Specific emitter identification

IED defeat

Satellite communications/ Space segment Various sensor technologies

NewSpace

Spectrum monitoring & management

Direction finding & geolocation Signals interception

COMINT; ELINT Network Surveillance

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The Aerospace & Defense Ecosystem Value Chain Segmentation Government Agencies

Military

Commercial SatCom & Airlines

(Service Providers)

Prime Contractors Sub-Contractors

Small Suppliers & MRO Services

MRO: Maintenance, Repair & Operations

Component

Manufacturers

Electronic Design Automation (EDA)

General Purpose Products

Signal Sources Signal Analyzers Network Analyzers

Optical Test High Speed Digital High Performance Oscilloscopes

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Forces at Work in the Industry

There is a concerted effort world-wide to build smaller, more technologically capable military forces. Even though overall budgets may be flat or shrinking in most countries, the

money earmarked for technology advancement, will grow significantly

Increasing technology parity with potential adversaries and the need for an increase in acquisition efficiency is driving this effort

Information and information flow (Cyber) is a new domain of warfare and has gained a great deal of attention world wide

Political drivers in the form of export controls and economic sanctions are in a state of continuous change

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New Demands from the A/D Industry

Need to move acquired or stored RF signal data from one instrument to another at a minimum rate of at least 10 GB/s (equivalent to 2 GHz

modulation bandwidth).

Need high speed (to real time) data reduction/analysis within the instrument (FPGA/DSP/GPU) can no longer rely on instrument controller

Must have multiple, coherent, RF channels for signal generation and analysis

Need wideband capabilities with comparable bandwidth for both signal generation and signal analysis

More ease-of-use, lower time to first measurement and faster stimulus/response measurement time

Test Tools need to Evolve Along with (or faster than) Advanced System Capabilities

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Testing Array Antennas and Transmit / Receive Modules (TRM)

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AESA Airborne, 100-3000+ active elements

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Active Electronically Scanned Phased Array (AESA) Antennas

Key Benefits

Fixed position antenna

Flexible beam shape

Fast steering with precision

Ability to form multiple agile beams

Communicate with multiple spatially distributed ground stations or terminals

Operate in multiple modes engaging multiple threats or targets

Independent transmit/receive modules per element

Reduced power loss from integration of RF source on each T/R module

Graceful degradation single source failure will not cripple system

Multiple Spot Beams are created from a single array antenna

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New or Growing Challenges for Test

Array Element (TRM/TRMM) Counts Increasing (need speed without loss of accuracy)

Digital Signals Moving Closer to the Antenna (may not have access to stimulus in analog form)

Broadband Modulated Signals (not just pulsed) (need to generate and capture full-bandwidth signals)

Multi-Function Systems (need flexible measurement system, other types

of signal analysis such as modulation accuracy)

- EW, SIGINT, Search, SAR, Communications

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TRMM = Transmit Receive Multi Module

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Using Wide Bandwidth Signals to Increase Test Throughput

Traditional Approach to TR Module Cal

(speed limited by synchronization and state programming) 1) Set gain/phase

2) Measure narrow band S21 (noise reduction via narrow RBW and integration time)

3) Repeat for each gain/phase combo, and each frequency

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Thinking about the problem in a different way (speed limited by data transfer) 1) Apply a test signal such as a tone.

2) Rapidly change the gain/phase shifters to modulate the test signal through all possible

states in a pseudo-random fashion. (noise reduction via state duration)

3) Capture the wideband QAM modulated signal, synchronize to the modulation patterns and analyze.

4) Repeat for each frequency Dynamic approach more closely matches operation

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Multi-channel Solution for Array Antenna Alignment and Calibration

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A multichannel coherent test capability is optimum for array antenna testing. This example system uses a multichannel digitizer in place of a network analyzer. This configuration provides more channels for simultaneous testing and the ability to provide wideband analysis greatly improving measurement speed.

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Impact of Digital Moving Closer to the Antenna

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No analog S21 measurements (DAR for example)

Signals may be amplitude modulated (linearity)

Signals have bandwidth (flatness, spurious)

DSP TTD vs. Phase/Gain Shift

Digital plumbing (interconnects)

More channels to test

Performance metrics ? (new plus some old)

Calibrations

Test modes

Test points

DSP

D/A

A/D

S21

CLK

DAR = Digital Array Radar

TTD = True Time Delay

No access to stimulus in analog form

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The Move into Millimeter Wave

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New & Existing Applications Finding a Spectral Home in mmWave

Expanding Applications

Radio astronomy

Fire control radar

Imaging scanners

Inter-satellite links

Point to point high bandwidth links (backhaul)

Ka band satellite communication

New Applications

IEEE 802.11ad Wireless LAN

5G commercial communications

High resolution radar

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Drivers and Enablers of mmWave

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Smaller platforms Unmanned systems

Higher resolution Synthetic Aperture Radar

Spectrum availability More bandwidth available Less interference

Improved semiconductor technology SiGe, GaN, CMOS

Oscilloscopes have

become an important

tool for wideband,

multi-channel vector

RF signal analysis

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Increasing Frequency Range for Various Solid State Technologies

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D. Yeh, et. al, Millimeter-wave multi-gigabit IC technologies

for super-broadband wireless over fiber systems,"

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Measurement Challenges at Millimeter Frequencies

Inability to penetrate walls, foliage, rain, etc.

Higher losses as frequencies increase

Smaller and more fragile cables (or waveguide) and adapters

Costs for equipment and accessories are high

Lack of power standards above 110 GHz

1 mm to 1.85 mm adapter

Retail price: $2400

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Renaissance in Electronic Warfare (EW) and Signals Intelligence (SIGINT)

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EW Threats Today and Tomorrow

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Modern EW systems must stay current and have the ability to adapt to future threats

Todays threat environment is constantly evolving with modern digital processing

Usage of frequency agile TRMs with high level of adaptability

Pulse characteristics are dynamically programmed to extract the most information from the target.

Phased array antenna systems becoming ubiquitous

Multi-mode/ multi-functions systems constantly changing the RF signature of systems

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Radar Warning

Receiver (RWR)

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The Differences Between EW and Radar Require Somewhat Different Test Methods

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Bandwidth EW systems require wider instantaneous bandwidths.

Power Radar requires very high power at low duty cycle EW applications require high power at close to 100% duty

cycle for certain modes of operation.

Frequency Range EW systems have a wider range of frequency of operation to address many different

threats

Antenna Characteristics Both benefit from AESA technologies (beam shaping, multiple beams & beam steering) Fundamental beam shapes can vary. (ie: Jammer beam may be broad, radar more

narrow).

Signal Processing Radar focused on measuring the range and velocity of a target and calculating the

acceleration in order to sustain tracking.

EW involves identifying threat signals and characterizing them to then produce an appropriate response (e.g. wideband, narrowband, deceptive).

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Pantsir S1 (SA-22 Greyhound) SAM system

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System Operational Platform Evolution Moving from Distributed to more Integrated Architectures

Platform with Distributed Systems Platform with Integrated Systems

Radar

EW Electronic

Attack

Radar

EW Electronic

Attack SIGINT Signals

Intelligence Avionics &

Comms

Avionics &

Comms SIGINT Signals

Intelligence

.

.

.

Central

Controller

Test solutions need to become software/firmware

definable with common hardware elements

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Signal Analysis

The Basic Building Blocks of an Off-the-Shelf Solution

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EW System

Under Test

Signal Stimulus Signal Analysis

Multichannel (>=8?) Coherent channels Wideband (5 GHz)

Scenario Creation Downconversion

Multichannel (>=8?) Coherent channels Wideband (5 GHz) Tunable LO Filtered Amplified/Attenuated Automatic Level Control

Upconversion

Real-time analysis Multichannel calibration and

alignment

PDW list generation Temporal and statistical

pulse/pulse train analysis

Multiple coherent channels IQ, IF, or interpret PDWs FPGA access for custom and

reactive waveforms

Multiple dynamic emitters Long scenarios IQ, IF, or PDW list

Scenario Generation

Reference waveforms

Synchronization

Control connections

Signal Capture

Multiple coherent channels Adjustable pre-selection and

filtering

Deep memory capture

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Pulse Descriptor Words (PDW) to Describe and Simulate Threats

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Contains temporal pulse information for each pulse received Example: Frequency, amplitude, PRI, pulse width, delta TOA, TOA, target

designator or ID, range, velocity, AOA, etc.

The structures of PDWs vary widely depending on required detail and application

There are commonly utilized formats

Use deinterleaving of pulses in a multi-emitter environment to isolate the train from each specific emitter

Separate PDWs into groups of pulses with parametric and inter-pulse consistency

Pulse overlap handling determined on a user defined priority basis (e.g. strongest signal)

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Mitigates the Problem of Huge Signal Data Files

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Trends in Satellite Technologies The Effect of NewSpace on Satellite Technologies

Sputnik 1 Project SCORE MILSTAR Boeing 702HP

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More Regenerative Payloads Vector Modulation and Demodulation as Part of Signal Path

ADC

DAC

Demodulator

Modulator

FEC

Encode

DSP

Conventional

Hardware Digital

Signal

Processing

Digitally regenerative satellites greatly expand test plans compared to classical bent pipe architectures

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Commercial Satellite Market Trends - NewSpace

Definition from NewSpace Global

NewSpace is an emerging global industry of private companies and entrepreneurs who primarily target commercial customers, are

backed by risk capital seeking a return, and profit from innovative

products or services developed in or for space.

NewSpace is not a new industry so much as it is a major disruptive force in the space industry as a whole

Characteristics of NewSpace

Primary objective is to make a profit from risk-based investment

Commercial business and funding models

Willingness to take risk

Background / Context

https://www.newspaceglobal.com/

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Key Attributes

Rapid growth in the number of relatively low cost satellites

Numerous deployments of constellations of small satellites

Prolific use of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components

Lower launch costs

More frequent launches

Satellites with short orbital life expectancies

Trends and enablers

Cost

Volu

me

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NewSpace

NewSpace business models drive approaches more consistent with commercial electronics industry than traditional space

However, its still Space

Requires best practices of commercial electronics & traditional space

Individual business models will dictate the correct balance

Implications for electronic design and test

Key considerations: DFx - Design for manufacturability, volume, test and cost Clear criteria for production ready Minimize use of hand-crafted products Process automation

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Mixed Signal Test for AD Applications

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Mixed Signal Implementation Test Challenges

Different Signal Formats

Analog vs. Digital Words

Cross Domain Analysis

Probing Challenges

Internal FPGA Signals

New Development Processes

Modulator

Demod

10101

10111

DAC

ADC

10 Bit

Internal

FPGA

Digital

Busses

1

0

0

1

1

Cross

Format

Analysis

Transmitter

Receiver

I

Q

IQ Base-

Band

0

0

1

0

1

Digital

Bus

Signal

Format

10 Bit

Comparative

BB, IF & RF

Analysis

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Use Same VSA Software Along a Mixed Signal Tx Chain with Instruments Appropriate for the Different Signal Formats

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Logic

analyzer with

FPGA

dynamic

probe

and VSA

software

D/A PA FGPA/DSP

VSA software on

Oscilloscopes, RF

Signal Analyzers,

and Digitizers

IF RF Analog

(IF or IQ)

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Probing Across the DAC Boundary Using VSA Software with a Logic Analyzer (Digital) and Oscilloscope (Analog IF)

Logic analyzer on

left probing digital

signals on 21 FPGA

pins via flying leads

--- fed to VSA

Digital oscilloscope

on right probing

DAC analog output

IF --- fed to VSA

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Radar Target Simulation Requires Cost Effective Tools

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Radar Target Signal Simulation

To use an OTS signal generator for pulse Doppler radar target simulation, it must be made coherent with the radar under test This is difficult to achieve no current OTS

signal generator can do this

Simulation systems for use with active and coherent radar systems are currently almost always based on digital RF memories (DRFM).

Passive, bistatic or multi-static radars that use non-coherent detection methods, also benefit from simulation tools based on commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) arbitrary waveform generators.

coherent pulse train

Passive radar antenna Courtesy of Cassidian

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Digital RF Memories (DRFM) for Radar Target Simulation Source to Receiver Coherency

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Intrinsically phase coherent with the signal source, such as the transmitting radar.

Developed for EW applications, also used for coherent target simulation.

Downconversion to Baseband ADC

RF Input

FPGA

DAC Upconversion to RF

Additional Digital

Signal Processing and/or Memory

RF Output

Critical factors:

Low intra and inter pulse jitter

Low signal latency

Wide bandwidth

High SFDR

Regeneration capabilities:

Time delay

Phase & frequency shift

RCS, JEM, multi-scattering

Clutter & noise

DRFM

IF

IF

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Radar Cross Section (RCS)

The amplitude and phase of the radar return signal changes as the aspect angle of the target changes.

RCS is very dependent of the target size, shape and construction material.

Generalized RCS simulated using Swerling models (I V) or for specific target RCS use recorded or customized signal returns.

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MIMO Radar Presents a simulation challenge

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TX

TX

RX

RX

Co-located antennas with multiple reflectors

Targets are Point Reflectors

Co-Located Antennas Allow Direction Finding

(Reflectors of interest are within the beam pattern)

Rank of the channel matrix

(independent signal paths) indicates

the number of targets in a range cell

Range

Resolution

The test challenge is to provide multiple and

coherent source and/or receiver channels

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Concluding Remarks

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The Future for Test & Measurement

Test equipment needs to continuously adapt and improve to support the use cases enabled by rapidly advancing technologies.

Components and systems; DC, digital, baseband & RF signals

Array antennas require multiple channels of stimulus and analysis with wide bandwidth to gain measurement throughput .

Simulation of spectral environments which include a combination of radar, wireless, wireless networking, and recorded signals require

streaming large amounts signal data.

Software defined instrumentation provides a method for controlling test costs through hardware reuse and reduced time to first

measurement.

Keysight Technologies has the tools, support and commitment to innovation needed to address the future of test.

Continuous Innovation

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nanoFET MMIC

Switches & Attenuators

Proprietary DAC

100 ns Update Rate

Phase Coherent Switching

UXG Agile Signal Generator

N5193A UXG Agile Signal Generator Better testing done sooner

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Up to 40 GHz

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N5193A UXG Agile Signal Generator

Key Specifications

Fast switching speed

Update frequency, phase or amplitude in < 100 ns

Phase repeatability or phase continuity

Wide chirps (10-25% of carrier frequency)

Long pulse trains using:

List-based pulse descriptor words

Rear panel binary or BCD interface

Great phase noise (-126 dBc/Hz at 20 kHz offset @ 10 GHz)

Similar to PSG Option UNY

Coherence between units

Full instrument security features

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Page Agilent Confidential

July 2014

N9040B UXA Signal Analyzer

Deeper views of elusive and wideband signals

8.4/13.6/26.5 GHz

Streamlined

touch driven

interface

Full BW RTSA

Up to 510 MHz

analysis BW

89600 VSA &

N9068C Phase

Noise App

Industry

Leading

Phase noise

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UXA Advancing Technology to Deliver Performance

New proprietary ADC

2.4GSa/s 14 bit

New Wide BW Front End

510 MHz Analysis

Excellent RF flatness New Proprietary DAC

DDS based LO

Excellent Phase Noise

Low Spurious

New large touch-screen

display with modern GUI

Wideband Digital IF provides High Dynamic Range

510MHz BW

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M933xA

81180B

M8190A

M8195A

Proprietary Technology - Unique Performance

M9330A / N8241A

15 bit, 1.2 GSa/s

Best signal quality in PXI

and LXI from factor

81180B

12 Bit, 4.6 GSa/s 1 GHz analog BW

Economic version

M8190A

14 bit 8 GSa/s / 12 bit 12 GSa/s

5 GHz analog BW

Highest Dynamic Range

SFDR: -90 dBc .

10 dB more than the closest competitor

M8195A

65 GSa/s

20 GHz analog BW

Highest bandwidth and port

density in a 1U AXIe module

Jitter 5 ps pp @ 16Gb/s

SFDR: up to -80 dBc

Integrated FIR filter,

Hardware-encoding +

real-time impairments

Keysight High-Speed Arbitrary Waveform Generators

Choose the performance you need: High Resolution Wide Bandwidth

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M8190A Arbitrary Waveform Generator - Overview

Precision AWG with DAC resolution of: 14 bit up to 8 GSa/s 12 bit up to 12 GSa/s

Up to 2 GSa Arbitrary Waveform Memory per channel

Up to 5 GHz bandwidth per channel 3 selectable output paths: direct DAC, DC

and AC

SFDR: up to -90 dBc typ. (fout = 100 MHz, DC to 3 GHz)

Harmonic distortion: -72 dBc typ. (fout = 100 MHz, balun)

Advanced sequencing scenarios sequences*)

2 markers per channel

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M8195A Arbitrary Waveform Generator - Overview

65 GSa/s on 1, 2 or 4 channels per module

20 GHz analog bandwidth

8 bit vertical resolution

Up to 16 GSamples memory per module

Sequencing capability

Asynchronous trigger

FIR filter per channel in hardware

S-Parameter de-embedding

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0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

90

SFDR(dBc) vs. Tone freq. (MHz)

100 tones from 10 to 15 GHz with a notch @ 12.5 GHz

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Questions ?

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