TTank-automotive & AArmaments ComCommandCommitted to Excellence

TRADE-OFFs IN WEAPON SYSTEM DESIGNBY

RONALD ELBE

CLOSE COMBAT ARMAMENTS CENTERPRODUCTION & FIELD SUPPORT TEAM

NDIA PRESENTATION MAY 2003

Elber@ria.army.mil

DSN 793-5475

COMM (309) 782-5475

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DISCLAIMER

• NOT AN OFFICIAL U.S. ARMY POSITION

• CONTENT SOLELY OPINION & RESPONSIBILITY OF RON ELBE

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PURPOSE OF PRESENTATION

• HEIGHTEN AWARENESS OF INTERACTIONS / TRADE OFFs WITHIN WEAPON SYSTEMS

• IMPROVE COMMUNICATIONS BETWEEN

USER & DEVELOPER

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FIRST PRINCIPLE OF WEAPON SYSTEM DESIGN ••••

FIRST PRINCIPLE OF WEAPON SYSTEM DESIGN ••••

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“THERE AIN’T NO FREE RIDES ! ”“THERE AIN’T NO FREE RIDES ! ”

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(EVERYTHING IS A TRADE-OFF)(EVERYTHING IS A TRADE-OFF)

TYPICAL SYSTEM TRADE-OFFs

“IMPROVING” MAY DEGRADE

RELIABILITY ACCURACY, AFFORDABILITY, PORTABILITY

TERMINAL BALLISTICS

DURABILITY AFFORDABILITY, PORTABILITY,

TERMINAL BALLISTICS

PORTABILITY AFFORDABILITY, AMMO CAPACITY, DURABILITY, TERMINAL BALLISTICS

FEATURES AFFORDABILITY, MAINTAINABILITY, PORTABILITY, RELIABILITY

RATE OF FIRE ACCURACY, CONTROLLABILITY, DURABILITY

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TYPICAL SYSTEM TRADE-OFFs(CONTINUED)

“IMPROVING” MAY DEGRADE

CONTROLLABILITY PORTABILITY, RATE OF FIRE, TERMINAL BALLISTICS

ACCURACY AFFORDABILITY (WEAPON & AMMO),

DURABILITY, RELIABILITY

INTERCHANGEABILITY AFFORDABILITY

5% – 95% FEATURES, TERMINAL BALLISTICS

AMMO CAPACITY DURABILITY, PORTABILITY

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TYPICAL SYSTEM TRADE-OFFs(CONTINUED)

“IMPROVING” MAY DEGRADE

SAFETY FEATURES, TERMINAL BALLISTICS

TERMINAL BALLISTICS AFFORABILITY, DURABILITY, PORTABILITY, RANGE,

RELIABILITY, SAFETY

PENETRATION LETHALITY, PORTABILITY, RELIABILITY

MUZZLE FLASH PORTABILITY

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TRADE OFFs AFFECT ENTIRE SYSTEM

M856 TRACE DISTANCE & BALLISTIC MATCH

PROJECTILE SHAPE/LENGTH

& TERMINAL BALLISTICS

RIFLING TWIST,CTG COST, CTG INTEGRITY

BARREL LIFE, ACCURACY

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DESIGNERS JUGGLE

TRADE-OFFs TOWARD AN

“OPTIMUM DESIGN”

DESIGNERS JUGGLE

TRADE-OFFs TOWARD AN

“OPTIMUM DESIGN”

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WEAPON SYSTEMS ARE LIKE MOVIES • • •

• SEQUELS MAY OR MAY NOT BE BETTER THAN THE ORIGINAL

• EVOLUTION CAN IMPROVE SYSTEMS, BUT•• ORIGINAL DESIGNER PROBABLY MADE

WISE TRADE-OFFs •• DESIGN VARIANTS DEVIATE FROM THOSE TRADE-OFFs

•• THE DEVIATIONS AND THEIR RESULTING NEW TRADE-OFFs MUST BE THOROUGHLY UNDERSTOOD BY BOTH DEVELOPER & USER

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EXAMPLES OF VARIANTSEXAMPLES OF VARIANTS

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SO,

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

SO,

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF

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(MUZZLE FLASH VS PORTABILITY)

SOME TRADE-OFFs MAY NOT BE OBVIOUS

SOME TRADE-OFFs MAY NOT BE OBVIOUS

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RECOMMENDATIONS TO USERS

• DON’T MAKE ANY REQUIREMENT MORE STRINGENT THAN NEEDED.

• ADDRESS ALL REQUIREMENTS.• BE FLEXIBLE IN YOUR REQUIREMENTS.• ASK ABOUT TRADE-OFFs ! ! !• UNDERSTAND AND ACCEPT TRADE-OFFs.

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RECOMMENDATIONS TO DEVELOPERS

• TAKE A “TOTAL SYSTEM” VIEWPOINT• UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM IMPLICATIONS OF

EVERY REQUIREMENT

• MAKE CONSCIOUS TRADE-OFF DECISIONS

•• USE A FORMAL TRADE-OFF

MATRIX / PROCESS / ANALYSIS

• EXPLAIN IMPLICATIONS OF USER REQUIREMENTS TO HIM

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BECAUSE • • •BECAUSE • • •

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THERE AIN’T NO FREE RIDES ! ! !THERE AIN’T NO FREE RIDES ! ! !

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(IF YOU DON’T ACCEPT THIS PRINCIPLE, THE SOLDIER WON’T

GET OPTIMUM SYSTEM ! ! !)

(IF YOU DON’T ACCEPT THIS PRINCIPLE, THE SOLDIER WON’T

GET OPTIMUM SYSTEM ! ! !)