Adapting Air Force Test and Evaluation to Emerging System Needs Abstract
Abstract
The Air Force owns and operates an extensive network of facilities for developmental and operational test and evaluation (T and E). This study addressed the characteristics of emerging systems that will place new demands on T and E capabilities and their underlying key drivers. These characteristics include complex, software-defined capabilities; cyber vulnerabilities; autonomous and self-learning systems; and the need to operate in advanced threat environments, which make emerging systems fundamentally different from current and past systems, requiring significant changes in T and E. Technical solutions to address T and E of these emerging systems include integrated use of modeling and simulation, software and cyber design-for-test, test data analytics, and trust metrics for non-deterministic systems. Additional non-technical solutions include T and E integration into the Air Force's Developmental Planning process and addressing T and E workforce and skill sets. Above all, T and E is a cradle-to-grave consideration. From the beginning of concept definition, through development, developmental and operational test, and throughout the life cycle of any weapon system, there must be a process to allow for the recognition of deficiencies that arise due to hardware, software, or the environment and the mitigation of these deficiencies in a timely, cost-effective manner.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 20, 2017
- Accession Number
- AD1149815