RDT&E Ship and Aircraft Support

The PE 0605863N: RDT&E Ship & Aircraft Support program is a comprehensive Navy initiative focused on providing essential support for research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) activities involving ships and aircraft. The program's overarching goal is to ensure that the Navy's fleet is equipped with advanced and reliable weapon systems and sensors by rigorously testing modifications, improvements, and new technologies. This support encompasses integrated logistics, depot-level maintenance, and operational readiness for both aircraft and ships used in RDT&E, thereby increasing the warfighting capability of the fleet and reducing operational risks.

RDT&E Acft Flt Hours is a line item dedicated to maintaining test pilot proficiency and readiness through the funding of direct flight hour costs, including aviation fuel, Aviation Depot Level Repairables (AVDLR), and maintenance for developmental test squadrons. The program ensures that test pilots and associated aircrew assigned to Naval Test Wing Atlantic and Pacific remain proficient in their assigned aircraft, supporting safe and effective testing operations. By funding a baseline level of flight hours, the Navy mitigates the risk of aviation mishaps and maintains compliance with requirements that mandate minimum flight hours for pilot readiness.

RDT&E Acft Supt provides funding for the preventive and corrective maintenance of fixed and rotary wing aircraft that directly support RDT&E activities. This includes airframe depot maintenance, engine overhauls, emergent repairs, and the replacement of failed components during flight operations. The program also supports Aircraft Structure Periodic Assessments (ASPA), Individual Material Readiness List (IMRL) tools, and other peripheral equipment necessary for maintaining flight readiness. By centralizing maintenance and support for RDT&E aircraft, the Navy reduces the burden on fleet units and ensures that test aircraft are available and operational for critical evaluation missions.

SDTS (Self Defense Test Ship) is a remotely operated platform that enables safe and effective testing of ship self-defense systems within their minimum range. The SDTS line item funds preventive and corrective maintenance of Hull Mechanical and Electrical (HM&E) systems, remote control systems, and consumable supplies. Major activities include depot-level maintenance, upgrades to remote control infrastructure, and repairs to clear outstanding Departures from Specification (DFS). The SDTS extends the Navy's ability to conduct live-fire and developmental tests for ship classes, reducing the need for fleet units to support these activities.

T&E Enterprise merges common ship, element, and system requirements into consolidated test events, leveraging Combat System Ship Qualification Trials (CSSQT) to fulfill both Developmental Testing (DT) and Operational Testing (OT) needs. The program utilizes the SDTS and Enterprise Testbed (ETB) to conduct end-to-end operational testing, employing live-fire events and validated Modeling & Simulation (M&S) data to characterize system performance. Key objectives include test planning, installation and maintenance of combat system elements, and integration of systems into the Shared Technical Framework. The T&E Enterprise supports multiple ship classes and ensures consistent, efficient testing across the Navy's surface fleet.

Threat Engineering focuses on assessing and modeling current and future threat environments in coordination with the Office of Naval Intelligence (ONI). The program develops Acquisition Threat Engineering Products (ATEP), which are high-fidelity digital models used to evaluate Navy air defense systems in realistic operational scenarios. These models incorporate intelligence-derived data, physics-based simulations, and reactive threat features, supporting both live and virtual testing. Threat Engineering is essential for validating system performance, informing investment strategies, and ensuring fleet capability against evolving threats. The program sustains and updates multiple threat models annually, integrating them into testbeds for various ship classes.