Initial Operational Test & Evaluation

Abstract

This program element funds 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). For major defense acquisition programs, the law requires IOT&E be completed under realistic operating conditions before proceeding beyond LRIP. IOT&E will be planned to completely and unambiguously answer all critical operational issues (COI) as thoroughly as possible. IOT&E is conducted to determine the operational effectiveness and suitability and resolve overall mission capability of systems undergoing research and development (R&D) efforts. It is an evaluation of a system's performance when the complete system is tested and evaluated against operational criteria by personnel with the same qualifications as those who will operate, maintain and support the system when deployed. In general, IOT&E is performed on new systems in development, major modifications, and other systems as directed. This PE funds the Air Force Operational Test Agency's participation in Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E), 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. This PE also funds related operational test and evaluation (OT&E) activities such as Early Influence, Operational Utility Evaluations (OUE), Early Operational Assessments (EOA), Operational Assessments (OA), and independent IOT&E which support major milestones and decision points prior to Milestone C, full rate production, fielding, or declaration of IOC. IOT&E programs are identified in several system categories: Air; Space; Weapons; Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR); and Combat Support. This is a level of effort program element driven by Congressionally and DoD acquisition mandated requirements for operational testing. Budget Activity Justification: This program is in Budget Activity 6, RDT&E Management Support because this budget activity includes research, development, test and evaluation efforts and funds to sustain operations required for general test and evaluation.

Document Details

• Document Type: R2 Budgetary Justification
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2015
• Source ID: 0605712F_6_3600_PB_2015
• Change Summary Explanation: FY13: Reduction of $1.567M due to higher USAF and DoD priorities. FY14: $3.038M Congressionally directed reduction-program decrease. FY15: Reduction of $1.753M due to higher DoD priorities and adjustment for inflation.
• Service Agency Name: Air Force

Entities

Organizations

• United States Air Force

Tags

Communities of Interest

• C4I
• Weapons Technologies

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

• Acquisition
• Air Force
• Combat Support
• Military Personnel
• Operational Effectiveness
• Production
• Reconnaissance
• Surveillance
• Test And Evaluation
• Warfare
• Weapon Systems
• Weapons

Readers

• Civilian Systems Systems Program Capability Development and Upgrade Support Activity Expense and Pay Management.
• Naval Mine Countermeasure Systems Development.

Technology Areas

• 5G
• 5G - DoD 5G Program
• Fully Networked C3
• Fully Networked C3 - Command and Control
• Space