Reliability Demonstration of Safety Actuating Mechanism

Abstract

Development of high technology and high cost weapons system is a difficult task in view of. highreliability goals. It is further compounded in the case of single-shot airborne systems. Overall reliabilityof weapons system depends upon the reliability of systems and sub-systems used. Design of each systemand sub-system is fmalised after preliminary design review, critical design review, etc. and final reliabilityis demonstrated by subeing to functional tests.Warhead is the only sub-system responsible for inflicting damage to the target and all the otherembsystemsassist in delivering the warhead on or near the target. Safety actuating mechanism (SAM) subsystemis a single-shot device which provides safety during handling, launch and flight of a missile and actuatesthe warhead, whenever desired on receipt of firing pulse from radio altitude switch. SAM being critical forsuccessful detonation of the warhead, it is desired that this unit should have very high reliability. SAMunits are subjected to reliability tests and a reliability factor of 0.84 at 90 per cent confidence level is achievedwhich further increases to 0.98 due to redundancy.