LESSONS LEARNED FROM TITAN IV SRMU ORDNANCE PROGRAMS

This paper describes some of the unanticipated problems encountered in the development and implementation of an ordnance subsystem for the latest version of the Air Force Titan IV launch vehicle. Even though the technology of the chosen system was based on existing proven designs as much as possible, unexpected problems were experienced and resulted in cost and schedule impacts that might have been avoided if the lessons as presented herein had been implemented at the outset of the program. The paper is intended to provide some insight into some of the problems, the general reasons why they occurred and provide some recommendations on how future programs might avoid these types of situations.