RELIABILITY OF THE ATLAS RADIO-COMMAND GUIDANCE AND RE-ENTRY VEHICLE SYSTEMS

General Electric's contributions to the reliability of the Operational Atlas Missile System are described. The General Electric equipment on the Atlas includes the Radio-Command Guidance and the Re-entry Vehicle Systems and associated ground equipment. Details of the operational performance of this equipment are presented together with a review of problems encountered. The in-house reliability program is defined with special emphasis on the role of the reliability prediction and measurement. The evolution of a comprehensive, well-defined reliability program that stands as a guide for future operational reliability programs for weapon systems is discussed.