Test and evaluation for an air-launched guided missile program

Abstract

This thesis evaluates the Navy's test and evaluation (T&E) process for air-launched guided missiles, identifies T&E management problems, and proposes utilization of a particular test program strategy. Many changes have been made to improve the T&E process, but some of these have resulted in costly inefficiencies. Contributing problems include: the operational test agencies do not participate adequately in early test planning, excess duplication exists in testing done by major participants in the Navy air-launched guided missile T&E process, lack of definition of a mission profile leads to improper and inadequate testing of air-launched guided missiles, and numerous other T&E management problems. The utilization of an Integrated Test Program approach for air-launched guided missile T&E is proposed. Test data from contractor demonstration tests, limited TECHEVAL, and OPEVAL would be pooled to confirm compliance with specification requirements and verify operational effectiveness and suitability. Test assets and other resources would be conserved and overall T&E schedule improved.