Apache Helicopter: Tests Results for 30-Millimeter Weapon System Inconclusive
NSIAD-93-134
Published: Apr 01, 1993. Publicly Released: May 06, 1993.
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Highlights
Pursuant to a congressional request, GAO reviewed the Army's 1992 tests for the Apache helicopter's area weapon system (AWS), focusing on whether testing procedures and conditions provided sufficient information to fully assess the system's endurance, reliability, and accuracy requirements.
Recommendations
Recommendations for Executive Action
| Agency Affected | Recommendation | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should require the contractor to retest AWS to ensure that it meets contract reliability specifications. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Army conducted a 100,000-round test, which demonstrated that AWS had achieved twice the required mean-rounds-between-stoppage; therefore, no additional testing by the contractor is needed.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should operationally test AWS to determine what the field users can realistically expect to achieve in terms of reliability performance and distribute the results to the user community. |
Closed – Not Implemented
DOD believes that it has sufficient data from tests already conducted and from operational units fielded to project the reliability performance of AWS. No new testing to do this is planned.
|
| Department of the Army | The Secretary of the Army should direct the Apache program manager to validate the accuracy improvements on multiple aircraft, one from each of the three Apache fuselage types, during the October 1993 accuracy test. |
Closed – Not Implemented
The Army had determined that the Apache fuselage differences were insignificant relative to gun accuracy and has, therefore, stated that no testing of individual fuselage types is needed or planned.
|
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Weapons systemsAir defense systemsAircraft componentsArmy procurementCombat readinessHelicoptersMilitary aircraftProduct evaluationTestingMilitary forces