Page 2 - Aerotech News and Review, Feb 1, 2019 - Mission Update Edition

Edwards home to more than test center, wing
During the final dedicated operational test, AFO- TEC tests production-representative systems, in an operationally representative environment, to ensure our nation’s warfighters have the right tools to ac- complish the mission effectively.
AFRL, Aerospace Systems Directorate, Rocket Lab
The Air Force Research Laboratory’s Aerospace Systems Directorate’s Rocket Lab at Edwards is comprised of Detachment 7 and the Rocket Propul- sion Division and is responsible for the develop- ment of rocket propulsion technologies for current and future Air Force space and missile systems.
The Air Force Research Laboratory, headquar- tered at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio, encompasses all Air Force research and develop- ment with directorates and facilities throughout the United States.
AFRL’s Rocket Lab has devoted its efforts to the discovery, development and application of scientific and engineering principals to national defense rocket propulsion needs for more than 50 years. More than 250 military scientists, engineers, technicians and support staff advance this technol- ogy area. They are assisted by additional on-site contractors and base support organizations. The lab is the development center for all Air Force rocket and missile propulsion technologies, including pro- pellants, combustion, characterization of exhaust plumes, and the materials and structures unique to rocket propulsion. Nearly every U.S. rocket-pro- pelled system used today for tactical operations, ballistic launch, space launch and space operations can trace its technology back to this site.
The site’s unique, state-of-the-art research equipment and physical assets cover more than 65 square miles of Edwards. They include static rocket test stands capable of holding test firings up to 10 million pounds of thrust. Known histori- cally as the “Rocket Site,” its current efforts are devoted to a national master plan for rocket pro- pulsion technology research involving all military services, NASA and the rocket industry. Their lat- est technology thrust, called Rocket Propulsion 21, couples research with advanced propulsion concept demonstrations that will push the advancement of rocket propulsion.
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There are multiple tenant units at Edwards, in- cluding NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Cen- ter and the Air Force Research Laboratory. Among those units are:
VX-9 Detachment
The Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine is a U.S. Navy air test and evaluation squadron pri- marily based at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake, Calif. The VX-9 Detachment at Edwards is responsible for testing the F-35C Lightning II.
U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School
Since 1951, the United States Air Force Test Pilot School is where the Air Force’s top pilots, navigators and engineers learn how to conduct flight test and generate the data needed to carry out test missions. Human lives and millions of dol- lars depend upon how carefully a test mission is planned and flown.
The comprehensive curriculum of Test Pilot School is fundamental to the success of flight test and evaluation. Upon graduating from TPS, gradu- ates will have earned a Master of Science Degree in Flight Test Engineering.
31st Test and Evaluation Squadron
The 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, estab- lished in 1917, is an Air Combat Command unit at Edwards. The Desert Pirates and Detachment 1, 53rd Test and Evaluation Group are the sole ACC organizations at Edwards and are part of the 53rd Test and Evaluation Group, Nellis AFB, Nev., and the 53rd Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.
The 31st represents the warfighter during early flight testing to ensure the combat Air Force re- ceives the world’s best operational systems. The unit is staffed with operations, maintenance and engineering experts who plan and conduct tests, evaluate effectiveness and suitability, and influence system design.
Unit personnel are integrated into the B-1, B-2,
B-52, RQ-4 and MQ-9 programs. The squadron possesses six F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fight- ers and is the Air Force’s lead test agency for F-35 initial operational test and evaluation. Their results and conclusions support Department of Defense ac- quisition, deployment and employment decisions.
AFOTEC, Detachment 1
AFOTEC Det. 1 is responsible for assessing the operational effectiveness, suitability and mission capability of the F-35 Lightning II Air System to conduct sustained air-to-surface and air-to-air mis- sions in a network-centric operationally representa- tive environment.
As the lead operational test agency for the Joint Strike Fighter Operational Test Team, AFOTEC Det. 1 is responsible for accomplishing initial op- erational test and evaluation of the F-35 Lightning II with the efforts of the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, United Kingdom Ministry of Defense, Royal Netherlands Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force.
AFOTEC, Det. 5
Detachment 5 is a component of the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center headquar- tered at Kirtland Air Force Base, N.M.
Detachment 5 personnel are responsible for con- ducting the operational test and evaluation for the Air Force’s current and future bomber, mobility, C2ISR, training, and special operations aircraft and combat systems.
Operational testing is the final, definitive phase of the Air Force test and evaluation process and is required in advance of full-rate production and combat fielding decisions. Detachment 5 personnel are integrated into the test center’s combined test forces from concept development through system employment. They provide a critical operational perspective during developmental testing to help prepare systems for their final operational test and evaluation.
31st TES begins F-35 IOT&E
by Maj. Ashley Conner
Edwards AFB, Calif.
The 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron kicked off the Defense Depart- ment’s F-35 Lightning II Initial Operational Test and Evaluation with a large force employment sortie from Edwards AFB, Calif., Dec. 5, 2018.
“The sorties consisted of seven F-35s performing both offensive counter air, suppression of enemy air defenses and air attack operations. This marks an important milestone for the F-35 program,” said Lt. Col. Nicholas Ihde, 31st TES commander.
During the IOT&E phase, the 31st TES F-35 pilots will fly more than 30 missions designed to fully evaluate the complete air system as well as identify technical and op- erational areas for improvement.
“These unique flights place the aircraft in realistic com- bat conditions with our joint and coalition partners to de- termine the operational effectiveness and suitability for the war fighter,” Ihde said.
The 31st TES has 10 F-35 pilots, 145 maintainers and 11 engineers to bring the F-35 program through this phase. If they discover an issue they will work with the director of operational test and evaluation, Lockheed Martin and the F-35 Joint Program Office to address it before going out to the fleet.
“As the conduit between developmental test flights and combat missions it is our duty to ensure this aircraft ful- fills the need of the war fighter, (major command), and the An F-35 Lightning II assigned to the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron takes off from Edwards AFB, Calif. The 31st TES kicked off the Defense Department’s F-35 Initial Operational Test and Evaluation with a large force employment sortie Dec. 5, 2018.
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American public,” Ihde said. “We must guarantee that we hand the combat Air Force a product that has been tested with rigor and is ironed out. An advan- tage the 31st TES possesses is pilot experience. Most of the pilots have more than 1,500 flight hours in various fighter aircraft and previous operational test backgrounds lending vast experiences fall back on and reference in order to make this jet the best it can be.”
The completion of F-35 IOT&E will aid the Navy in an initial operating capability decision and will help inform full rate production for the DOD in the future.
Air Force photograph by Scott Wolfe
Aerotech News and Review
February 1, 2019
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