High reliability in guided missiles: electronic components and techniques

High reliability of an electronic system is dependent upon the careful consideration of many factors. There is the need for the extensive evaluation of the components to determine their performance under the widest possible environmental conditions; the necessity to provide data on which to base a selection of the best available components; and end-product testing to eliminate infant mortality in the component population. There is a need to see that constructional techniques match up to the component reliability, because reliable components can have their performance degraded by the application of poor construction and assembly.