Missile Accelerated Aging Assessment and Reliability Prediction Methodology

To address the MDA need for methodologies for long-term missile aging assessment and reliability prediction for polymer materials and electronic parts, Physical Optics Corporation (POC) proposes to develop a new Missile Accelerated Aging Assessment and Reliability Prediction (MA^3REP), based on thorough systematic analysis of existing age assessment technologies and reliability prediction methods with subsequent coupling of selected candidates to derive a cost-effective solution. The innovations in using a systematic approach for state-of-the-art technology analysis, missile aging assessment, reliability prediction, and integration with nondestructive testing and sensors are in full compliance with MDA requirements and will allow selection of an optimal suite of aging tests and reliability prediction methods relevant to extending shelf life of polymer and electronic parts of missiles. In Phase I, POC will demonstrate the feasibility of the MA^3REP methodology by constructing a prototype based on identification of proven technologies suitable for cost-effective coupling of age acceleration and advanced reliability assessment. In Phase II, POC plans to demonstrate a prototype methodology by using a complex missile or payload component for verification of the approach.