Initial Operational Test & Evaluation

Initial Operational Test & Evaluation is a critical component of the Air Force's research and development efforts. The program's primary goal is to fund the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) to conduct Congressionally mandated Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E) to support major weapon system acquisition decisions beyond Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP), Milestone C, full rate production, fielding, and declaration of Initial Operational Capability (IOC). This includes evaluating the operational effectiveness and suitability of systems undergoing R&D efforts. The program also supports participation in Multiservice Operational Test and Evaluation (MOT&E) and Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) when it is the continuation of IOT&E activities past the full rate production decision.

The program element funds participation in Multiservice Operational Test and Evaluation (MOT&E), and Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) when it is the continuation of IOT&E activities past the full rate production decision. FOT&E answers specific questions about unresolved COIs and test issues or completes areas not finished during the IOT&E. The PE funds related OT&E activities such as conducting Continuous Operational Testing (COT), Early Influence, agile release tests, Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E), Operational Utility Evaluations (OUE), Early Operational Assessments (EOA), Operational Assessments (OA) and operationally realistic valuations of advanced technologies which informs military utility determination. These tests support releases and major milestones and decision points prior to Milestone C, full rate production, fielding, or declaration of IOC. The program is driven by Congressional and DoD acquisition mandated requirements for operational testing. AFOTEC schedules and executes tests according to the forecasted test readiness of the MDAP program offices.