Facilities Restoration and Modernization - Test and Evaluation Support

Facilities Restoration and Modernization - Test and Evaluation Support, falls under Budget Activity 6, RDT&E Management Support. The specific goals of this program are to restore and modernize facilities to support the test and evaluation activities of the Air Force. This includes repair and replacement work to restore damaged facilities due to various causes, as well as the alteration of facilities to implement new standards or accommodate new functions. The program focuses on supporting various Air Force test organizations and their associated test and evaluation facilities, such as remote locations, the 96th Test Wing at Eglin AFB, FL, Arnold Engineering and Development Complex (AEDC) at Arnold AFB, TN, and others. The planned programs for FY 2023 and FY 2024 include efforts to continue restoration and modernization across the range complex, addressing specific needs such as HVAC systems, lightning protection systems, fire protection systems, corrosion control, and safety features critical to test execution.

The program also aims to close capability gaps for hypersonics intercept, reusable vehicles, boost glide, and store separation. Additionally, it includes multi-year restoration efforts targeting hypersonic test capabilities at AEDC. The budget request for FY 2024 was reduced by $5.834 million to account for the availability of prior year execution balances. Furthermore, there was a Congressional add of $55.600 million in support of Hypersonic test infrastructure at Arnold Air Force Base for FY 2023. The program's objectives align with sustaining and modernizing installations or operations required for general research, development, test, and evaluation efforts within the Air Force.