Challenges in Missile Life Cycle System Engineering
Abstract
Increasingly complex and costly weapon systems, combined with declining defense budgets, require innovative approaches for weapon system acquisition and for missile life cycle engineering. These innovative approaches are discussed under three major headings: Weapon System Acquisition Challenges, Missile System Life Cycle Reliability Challenges, and New Technology Challenges. The Weapon System Acquisition Challenge Section discusses Secretary Perry's acquisition reform initiatives. Two initiatives most extensively covered are Performance Based Contracting (PBC) and the Single Process Initiative (SPI). The Missile System Life cycle Reliability Challenges concentrate on the missile and rocket Stockpile Reliability Program (SRP), particularly the shelf-life and surveillance testing aspects. The shelf-life program is explained and the cost benefits are presented (billions of dollars of cost avoidance over a 30-year period). The surveillance testing program benefits are discussed, particularly with regard to detecting defective hardware and enhancing our soldiers warfighting capability. New Technology challenges include simulation, remote monitoring systems, and plastic encapsulated microcircuits (PEMs). Details are provided on MICOM's PEM storage assessment program, actual aging program, accelerated aging model, and joint research programs. Our 21st Century soldiers must be the best equipped soldiers in the world. The acquisition reform and technology initiatives discussed in this report can help achieve this objective. Our challenge is to implement these initiatives and apply the technological advances in a way that prevents any performance degradation. Our soldiers must have weapon systems they can bet their lives on.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Aug 01, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA329324
Entities
People
- Gary D. Davis
- Truman W. Howard
Organizations
- United States Army Aviation and Missile Command