Hellfire Missile System Remote Control Circuit Breakers on the AH-64A Apache Attack Helicopter

Remote control circuit breakers are trip-free thermal devices that combine the functions of a conventional circuit breaker and relay into one device. The remote control circuit breakers are used in the AH-64A Apache Attack Helicopter to prevent electric current overloads to the Hellfire Missile System. The Office of the Assistant Inspector General for Auditing performed a technical evaluation of the breakers based on a Hotline allegation that the breakers were defective in design and workmanship. The evaluation objective was to conduct a technical assessment to determine the adequacy of the design, quality control, and acceptance of the remote control circuit breakers. Specifically, we evaluated and tested remote control circuit breakers for design and quality to ensure that the United States Army Aviation and Troop Command (now Army Aviation and Missile Command), McDonnell Douglas Helicopter Systems, and Texas Instruments complied with manufacturing and quality processes.