The Test Environment Challenge.
Abstract
The 21st century tester faces the challenge of generating natural and manmade environments that represent conditions under which new weapon systems must operate. Natural environments include weather, terrain, and natural electromagnetic (EM) conditions which traditionally have been individually tested in climatic chambers and lightning facilities. Manmade environments are conditions generally created by the military forces to disrupt the enemy, ranging from chemical, biological, and nuclear agents which kill or incapacitate, to electronic countermeasures and obscurants which distract or confuse its weapons (or ours). We project that the 21st century arsenal (both ours and theirs) will include new environments such as low energy lasers, non-nuclear EM pulse, infrasound, calmative agents, and visual simulation/illusions. Since a large part of the motivation and design of 21st century military equipment is driven by these environments, we must be able to produce those conditions. Test environments also include nontraditional environmental protection compliance, a recently emphasized test concern. We must comply with Federal and state laws regarding the natural environment, and testers may be held accountable and liable. Testers must consider the effects of weapons testing upon the environment as well as the effects of the environment upon weapons.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 20, 1997
- Accession Number
- ADA323492
Entities
Organizations
- United States Army Test and Evaluation Command