Minuteman inertial guidance assessment - The next best thing to flight tests

Abstract

Techniques have been developed and implemented to enable the continuous assessment of Minuteman inertial guidance performance and in-flight reliability in a situation of relatively few flight tests planned for the remaining service lifetime of the weapon system. The Minuteman force consists of 1000 deployed missiles with guidance systems in full-time operation. Inertial Measurement Unit Performance Data are collected continuously for processing by the Minuteman Data Analysis System. Output data products provide observability of critical parameters measured during the calibration mode and during the normal strategic alert operating mode. Algorithms facilitate the prompt identification of performance anomalies as well as the ensemble statistical characterization of performance parameters. A simulated flight test is used to augment the in-flight reliability data base and to detect possible incipient degradation under the stresses representative of flight. The simulated flight environment is modeled from actual flight shock and vibration data. Systems are selected from the force for this non-destructive test on an unbiased sampling basis.