DETERMINATION OF THE OPERATIONAL CAPABILITY INDICATOR FOR MILITARY AUTOMOTIVE EQUIPMENT DURING INTENDED USE

Abstract

The article examines the concept of reliability regarding weaponry and military equipment, as well as the indicators characterizing the ability to maintain operational capability over a specific period of use or time; these indicators—which are probabilistic in nature—include failure-free operation, mean operating time between failures, technical (mean) service life, and the duration of maintaining specified characteristics. Reliability is also influenced by the manufacturing quality of machine components and parts, assembly and product inspection, as well as the standard of technological processes. During the operation of automotive equipment, reliability is affected by the conditions and intensity of combat use, the quality of maintenance and repair, adherence to established operating rules, and the timely performance of diagnostics and repairs. The operational reliability of automotive equipment is determined by the technical condition of the vehicles. The coefficient of technical readiness is used as a reliability indicator; however, it does not allow for an assessment of the actual technical condition of vehicles in military units or their readiness for their intended use. Assessing the current technical condition of vehicles and ensuring the required level of that condition can be achieved by investigating the process of change in the probability of failure-free operation of military vehicles and identifying ways to maintain a specified level of technical readiness. Therefore, the aim of this work is to derive a relationship for evaluating the operational capability of military automotive equipment during the performance of assigned missions.A failure is a random event involving the loss of a vehicle's operational capability. The primary failures of military vehicles at the front include:1. Undercarriage and suspension failures – approx. 40% of cases. (Manifestations: leaf spring breakage, shock absorber failure, deformation of torque rods, damage to wheel reduction gears. Causes: transporting loads exceeding standard limits—such as ammunition—combined with driving over rough terrain.) 2. Fuel system and engine failures – approx. 25% of cases. (Manifestations: clogged injectors, high-pressure fuel pump failure, gasket burnout, engine seizure due to oil starvation. Causes: use of fuel containing dirt or condensate.) 3. Failures of vehicle electronics and electrical equipment: ~20% of cases. (Manifestations: engine lockout, systems switching to "limp mode," sensor failure. Causes: modern trucks feature complex electronic circuit boards that are sensitive to moisture, dirt, and constant vibration). 4. Failures of braking and pneumatic systems: ~15% of cases. (Manifestations: cracks in hoses/lines, persistent fluid leaks, rapid wear due to harsh environmental conditions (dirt, sand, water). Causes: natural aging of metal and rubber components.) The availability of data on automotive equipment failures makes it possible to identify the causes of such failures, develop specific measures to eliminate them, determine schedules for preventive maintenance, and propose methods for modeling the technical condition of the vehicles. The paper proposes a composite indicator for determining the operational readiness of military automotive equipment, enabling an assessment of the current readiness level (based on vehicle usage in accordance with the military unit's annual operation and maintenance plan). This indicator makes it possible to determine the impact of specific factors on vehicle readiness and to outline measures for ensuring the required level of readiness for the automotive equipment of military units and formations during the execution of assigned missions. The practical value of the obtained results lies in the fact that knowledge of the actual operational status of a military unit's automotive equipment enables improved record-keeping and operational planning, as well as the timely analysis and assessment of the results of its use.