The Benefits of Functional Ground Testing, A Case Study of the Tomahawk Missile FGT Program

Abstract

The Tomahawk Functional Ground Test (FGT) Facility at the Naval Surface Warfare Center/Indian Head Division (NSWC/IHD) presents the Tomahawk program with a unique flight test risk reduction capability. The Tomahawk-Missile-in-the-Loop (TMIL) system integrates an actual strapped-down Tomahawk missile with a real time 6 DOF simulation and "flies" the missile through a mission to provide an economical means of obtaining data that could otherwise be only obtained through flight testing. A study of Tomahawk flight test failures shows that 72% of these failures could have been detected through FGT. Current estimates of the cost avoidance to the Tomahawk program resulting from FGT exceeds $100 million. A similar capability could prove useful on other missile programs, helping to reduce flight test risk and overall test costs.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jul 01, 1998
Accession Number
ADA364878

Entities

People

  • Betsy B. Delong
  • J. M. Spriggs
  • Mark D. Legoullon

Organizations

  • Naval Surface Warfare Center Indian Head Division

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Astronautics
  • Attitude Control Systems
  • Ballistic Missiles
  • Control Systems
  • Engineering
  • Failure Mode And Effect Analysis
  • Flight Testing
  • Generators
  • Guidance
  • Manufacturing
  • Reliability
  • Simulations
  • Simulators
  • Software Testing
  • Test And Evaluation
  • Weapon Control
  • Weapons

Readers

  • Maritime and Naval Warfare Studies
  • Missile Defense Systems.
  • Systems Analysis and Design