Facilities Sustainment - Test and Evaluation Support

The Facilities Sustainment - Test and Evaluation Support program (PE 0605978F) is a critical element of the Air Force's Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation (RDT&E) Management Support budget. The primary goal of this program is to ensure that test and evaluation (T&E) facilities across several Air Force installations remain in optimal working condition to support ongoing and future research and development efforts. This is accomplished through a comprehensive sustainment strategy that includes maintenance, repair, and periodic replacement of facility components. The program does not cover environmental compliance, leases, or general operations such as custodial services.

The program supports the sustainment needs of several major Air Force organizations and their associated T&E facilities. These include the 96th Test Wing (TW) at Eglin AFB, FL; the 412th TW at Edwards AFB, CA; the Arnold Engineering and Development Complex (AEDC) at Arnold AFB, TN; the 704th Test Group (704TG) at Holloman AFB, NM; the 704TG Landing Gear Test Facility at Wright-Patterson AFB, OH; Hypersonic Wind Tunnel 9 at White Oak, MD; and the National Full-Scale Aerodynamics Complex (NFAC) at Moffett Field, CA. The facilities supported by this line item are essential for the Air Force's ability to conduct a wide range of test and evaluation activities, including advanced propulsion, aerodynamics, hypersonics, and radar cross-section testing.

Facility sustainment at the 96th Test Wing focuses on maintaining and upgrading infrastructure critical to armament range testing. For FY 2025 and FY 2026, the program funds Direct Scheduled Work Orders for projects such as HVAC and electrical upgrades, as well as corrosion control efforts. These investments are intended to ensure that the 96TW can continue to provide reliable test environments for weapons and munitions development. The FY 2026 budget reflects an increase to address real property appropriation corrections and further improve facility conditions.

Facility sustainment at the Arnold Engineering and Development Complex is the largest component of this line item. AEDC's sustainment efforts are centered on scheduled preventative maintenance for a diverse set of ground test facilities, including engine test cells, wind tunnels, arc-heated test facilities, rocket motor test stands, and space chambers. The FY 2026 plan includes an increase in funding to enhance hypersonic test capabilities and address real property corrections, reflecting the growing importance of hypersonics in the Air Force's research and development portfolio.

Facility sustainment at the 412th Test Wing at Edwards AFB is also a major focus. Projects include repairs to corrosion control facilities, HVAC systems in key test and maintenance hangars, roof replacements, and electrical and lighting system upgrades in mission-critical buildings such as the Ridley Mission Control Center and the Benefield Anechoic Facility. The FY 2026 budget increase is attributed to real property appropriation corrections and expanded maintenance requirements to support ongoing test operations.

Across all supported locations, the objectives of the Facilities Sustainment - Test and Evaluation Support program are to maintain the safety, reliability, and operational readiness of T&E infrastructure. This includes regular inspections, preventative maintenance, emergency repairs, and major component replacements for systems such as heavy plant machinery, high-power electrical gear, hydraulic and cooling systems, fire detection and suppression systems, and specialized test instrumentation. By investing in these sustainment activities, the Air Force aims to minimize facility downtime, extend the service life of critical assets, and ensure uninterrupted support for current and future RDT&E missions.