Test plan
Test Objective
The purpose of conducting this test is to ensure that the minimum safe arming distance of the SRAW is accurately determined. The key objective of this test is that SRAW must be armed at a minimum distance of 16 metres. A properly planned and executed test program saves the cost of the entire program and ensures that results are obtained as expectations and that the device performs as per expectations when placed in actual conditions (Skelley et al., 2004).
Test Scenarios Set Up
In order to run the basic scenarios for proper functioning of SRAW CTP, System Development and Demonstration phase will be carried out. In this phase, the minimum safe arming distance will be determined and the design will be frozen, put into quality assurance testing and then qualified for further test. In the Software Development and Demonstration phase, Hardware and Software Integration testing will be carried out and the minimum safe arming distance will be tested with real personnel using the SRAW.
A successful test is defined as the one which satisfies all the desired criteria in operational test and evaluation outline. The operational test is carried out to ensure that minimum operational requirements are met (Thompson and Nissan, 2005). Following are the assessment of success criteria:
Event Success–A test for determining the minimum safe arming distance for SRAW is considered an event success when a single instance of the test is carried out successfully with respect to the operational effectiveness, i.e., minimum safe arming distance is at 16 metres. This includes the determination whether the marines can safely fire the SRAW, including operations in urban terrain, operations at night using night vision goggles, and other parameters.
Event Failure–A test for determining the minimum safe arming distance for SRAW is considered an event failure when a single instance of the test fails either of the operational effectiveness parameters specified above fails. i.e., minimum safe arming distance is not at 16 metres
Successful Test Series–When the test involving series of scenarios satisfy the operational effectiveness parameters of minimum safe arming distance, the test series is considered as successful (Payton, 2005).
Test Article Configuration
The test article configuration is generally divided into phases. In the initial phase, individual and semi aligned components are tested in laboratory and field tests. In the subsequent phases, dummy warheads are inserted and the overall performance of the SRAW is tested. In the DTE phase, the complete full-up live system is tested to verify the physical parameters as was defined in the specifications. The minimum safe arming distance is then tested by using live full SRAW weapon with real personnel operating the weapon.
Test Article and Target Requirements
A total of 157 safe and arm devices will be required for the program manager to execute the test plan. The target requirements for test plan are five T-72 target tanks, 3 BMP-2 target vehicles and four armored remote control kits. A reliability of 95% is required for the test to be successful.
Confidence Levels
The statistical basis of the test is carried out using a nomogram. The test is expected to demonstrate a reliability of 95% with 5% failures. The confidence level is 95%. A binomial probability distribution is used.
Test Limitations
The test at lab level is not sufficient to accurately predict the performance of the production SRAW. This is because there will be a difference in components used at test level and the actual production components. Hence, the CTP of safe arming distance must be tested at both lab as well as field level and then improvements in various parameters of the design be recommended to be incorporated in the production.
References
Payton, G. (2005). Advanced Concepts in Missile Defense.The George C. Marshall Institute, 14-20.
Skelley, M. L., Langham, T. F., & Peters, W. L. (2004).Integrated test and evaluation for the 21st century.USAF Developmental Test and Evaluation Summit, 1-14
Thompson, A. M., & Nissan, R. (2005).Missile systems.Aerospace America, 43(12), 84
