Operational Testing Experience On The AH-64A Apache

The design evolution of the Apache Weapon System was achieved through continued laboratory integration, vehicle ground integration testing and flight evaluation. System integration and test was an iterative process. After initial testing, design changes were made and retested. The software development process which is an intimate major component of integration testing was streamlined during the test phase to provide fast yet controlled turnaround of software updates. The system provided for complete updates as well as field patches and an identification system that provided configuration control and correlation to flight test results. Integration emphasis was placed on the MIL-STD-1533A multiplex bus system. The hardware in the various subsystems was a mix of GFE, off-the-shelf units and a few specifically designed for 1553A. Signal formats and update rates varied widely and achieving a satisfactory bus control philosophy was difficult. The bus traffic was reorganized several times to improve end-to-end system performance. The result was a test proven Weapon System that met its specification and was committed to production with confidence.