Major T&E Investment

The Major T&E Investment program within the Air Force is dedicated to enhancing and modernizing test capabilities across several key facilities. These include the Air Force Test Center (AFTC) Major Range and Test Facility Base organizations, such as the 96 Test Wing at Eglin AFB, the 412 Test Wing at Edwards AFB, and the Arnold Engineering Development Complex (AEDC) at Arnold AFB. The program supports a wide range of testing activities, from developmental test and evaluation (DT&E) to operational test and evaluation (OT&E), ensuring that weapon systems are thoroughly evaluated from concept through operational deployment.

A significant goal of this initiative is to modernize test and evaluation range assets to accommodate advanced weapons systems. This includes developing capabilities for testing long-range, high-speed weapons in complex environments with multiple classification levels. The program places a strong emphasis on hypersonics testing, focusing on evaluating flight-representative hypersonic engines and materials in both simulated and open-air environments. This effort is managed by the Department of Defense Test Resource Management Center (TRMC), which oversees investments in hypersonic testing infrastructure.

Directed Energy/Electronic Combat is another critical focus area. It aims to simulate adversary air defense capabilities for advanced weapon systems development by creating realistic environments for testing 5th-6th generation weapons in Anti-Access Area Denial (A2AD) scenarios. Additionally, there is a focus on advancing cybersecurity testing capabilities for networked systems and airborne platforms, developing tools and techniques to enhance cyber-resiliency.

The Autonomy aspect of the program addresses the need to test autonomous systems with numerous independent vehicles. This involves monitoring system states and developing processes for testing artificial intelligence-driven systems. The Major T&E Investment program supports strategic capability goals aligned with the National Defense Strategy by ensuring that test facilities are equipped to handle current and future defense challenges effectively.