Page 3 - Aerotech News and Review, August 20, 2021

Precision Impact Range Area enhances test capabilities

by Staff Sgt. Rachel Simones
Edwards AFB, Calif.
Winding roads snake through the
desert and the hot summer sun scorch-
es down on sandy expansions of land
at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.
Within these twisting roads and
sandy spaces lies one of the Air
Force’s most valuable test resources,
the Precision Impact Range Area.
“The PIRA provides exceptional
mission support,” said Albert Moreno,
a supervisory technical support spe-
cialist with the 412th Range Squad-
ron. “It provides great feedback to the
warfighter.”
For military and civilian organiza-
tions alike, the Air Force Test Center’s
PIRA provides the space to experi-
ment. The PIRA contains a variety of
bomb targets, gunnery ranges, and
drop zones. The plethora of space and
variety of targets allows the PIRA to
remain a premier test site for pilots
and engineers.
“We help test everything that goes
on the aircraft from laser imaging to
targeting,” said Moreno. “We’re basi-
cally recording all the ground testing
from what the aircraft does up in the
air.” Air Force photograph by Staff Sgt. Rachel Simones
From maintaining an infrared tar- The Precision Impact Range Area (PIRA) offers unique targets for pilots and engineers to test aircraft and weapon systems at Edwards Air Force Base in Calif.
get board to offering mobile target The PIRA uses cutting-edge technology to measure Air Force capabilities.
systems, the PIRA provides resources
that allow pilots to practice for preci- The PIRA embodies innovation craft and weapon systems at the range. that operate the range and highlight work it actually makes a difference to
sion. through daily improvements and re- “The PIRA can provide a variety of how its functionality is achieved with the warfighter, to the Air Force, and
“With the upgrades to our systems sourceful ways of thinking. The em- data assessments and comparisons to minimal manpower. These employees to the United States of America,” said
we’re able to get up-to-date informa- ployees work as a team to provide meet all the requirements for all our keep costs for the Air Force low while Moreno. “I come to work with pride
tion to the pilots as it’s happening the most cutting-edge technology for different customers,” said Moreno. maintaining a high-quality range. because I know that every day some-
live,” said Moreno. pilots and engineers that test their air- Moreno is one of seven employees “I feel like every day that I come to thing we do here makes a difference.”

Space Test Fundamentals Class, USGS collect data

Recently, students from Space Test Fundamen- The research is part of STF-21-2’s capstone capstone exercise to evaluate student’s knowl- ering effective and resilient combat capabilities
tals Class 21-2 and the United States Geological project. edge. to and from space,” said Col. Nick Hague, USSF
Survey conducted data acquisition at Rogers Dry Space Test Fundamentals is a three-month “The final capstone project pulls elements to- Test and Evaluation director.
Lake Bed at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif. class at the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School gether as the students build a test plan, execute The course enables the USSF to enhance its
The team worked together to measure the solar at Edwards. It is designed to provide hands- a test, analyze the results, and provide a report test and evaluation mission and multiply its abil-
radiance and surface reflectance of the lakebed, on training in flight test fundamentals, systems — which is ultimately the product that we, as ity to deliver combat-ready space forces.
at the same time Landsat 8 was passing overhead test, space science application, advanced space testers, provide to our customers and warfight- “This course is a critical step in training the
collecting imagery of the same area. system test and evaluation, and broad exposure ers,” said Dr. Andrew Freeborn, a USAF TPS space test professionals we need — operators,
This data will be used in conjunction with to the foremost centers of space operations and flight test instructor pilot. engineers, and acquisition test managers with the
flight test imagery gathered by the Test Pilot testing. The course creates a common training and knowledge and experience necessary to trans-
School as part of a Multi-Domain test exercise. The course culminates in a two-week realistic education baseline for space testers.
“Having a well-trained and skilled test and en- form test for the future,” said Hague, a NASA
gineering workforce is central to the USSF deliv- astronaut.

Air Force photographs
Members of the Space Test Fundamentals Class 21-2 and the U.S. Geological Survey conduct
data acquisition on Rogers Dry Lake Bed.

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