Test & Evaluation

Abstract

The Test and Evaluation (T&E) projects provide consolidated MDA capabilities and resources to support the management and execution of Ballistic Missile Defense System (BMDS) and Element-level testing. With the evolution of the BMDS, testing needs have expanded beyond those of the individual Elements to include testing of BMDS Critical Engagement Conditions (CEC) and Empirical Measurement Events (EME) to anchor modeling and simulations. The Directorate for Test centralizes all authority and responsibility for all BMDS testing. The Directorate for Test relies on the BMD System Engineering to provide the system test objectives to define the test architecture. The Directorate for Test plans and executes BMD system test events. The Directorate for Test also develops the necessary test policy, test plans, and test infrastructure to conduct an effective test program. Directorate for Test activities are grouped into five functional areas: Test Resources; Test Operations; Test Planning and Design; Test Policy, Budget and Personnel; and Test Readiness and Truth. Other test related program content involving Facilities, Siting, and Environmental Management, and Fielding and Integration is also included within this T&E project. Test Resources The Test Resources Program develops, sustains, and modernizes the core T&E assets of the BMDS Test Bed to support System and Element-level Flight and Ground testing and assessment. This includes development, sustainment and modernization of the MDA mobile instrumentation tool box, BMD-unique ground test facilities, and MDA data centers. The mobile instrumentation tool box includes telemetry, radar, and optical data collection assets such as four (4) test aircraft equipped with optical sensors, mobile telemetry systems, the Kwajalein Mobile Range Safety System, the Mobile Launch Platform (MLP), the Telemetry and Instrumentation Ship and the Pacific Tracker X-Band Transportable Radar Ship (under development). These assets are required to collect the spatial data needed to execute the Flight Tests safely and collect the measurement data needed for BMDS performance evaluation. The Test Resources Program also makes focused investments to improve MDA-unique capability at Major Range & Test Facility Base activities. All of these assets enable robust Flight Testing and support mandatory safety and analysis data requirements in support of BMDS test activities. Because this core test capability is corporately sustained, the BMDS Test programs or the individual BMDS Elements pay only the direct costs associated with their specific test efforts. The Test Resources Program also provides for the development, sustainment and modernization of Element Hardware-In-the-Loop (HWIL) representations to support robust system-level ground testing. The Test Resources program also provides continuous improvement, expansion, and sustainment of System Ground Test Infrastructure. The Test Resources Program uses the Systems Engineer`s products as the basis to evaluate the future resource needs of the BMDS. An annual analysis of data collection requirements and test scenarios versus existing and planned test assets identifies the test infrastructure needed to test the BMDS Elements as part of the test campaign. The Test Resources Program also includes the Pacific Range Support Team (PRST) to support the BMDS Test teams with range mission planning and execution expertise, development of common standards and mission assurance, and to recommend development or modification of mobile instrumentation to support MDA testing. We are expanding the PRST management philosophy to our ground test assets and this philosophy will include test resource-related improvements to training and integration efforts. Test Operations Test Operations executes the unified BMD test process. The Test Operations function prepares detailed plans and conducts all BMD system test events in conjunction with MDA and Non-MDA Elements. The Test Operations function consolidates personnel, processes, and resources in the elements and across MDA involved in flight and ground test execution into a cohesive team, relying heavily upon BMDS system test objectives determined by Systems Engineering. Engineering Test Analysis conducts system level analysis for all BMD system flight and ground test events and reports the results to MDA Leadership and the BMDS Community. Analysis is performed and reported using the Joint Analysis Team (JAT) process where system analysts and analysts from each participating element work together to plan analysis requirements and analyze test results. Comprehensive joint analysis produces cohesive system-level analysis, reduces flight test risk, and identifies operational capabilities and limitations through the use of standardized processes, tools, and products across all test venues. This analysis enables MDA Leadership to make capability delivery declarations to support Warfighter requirements. Test Planning and Design The Test Planning and Design program employs a three-phased strategy which will result in a process that produces an event-oriented test plan in the form of the BMDS Integrated Master Test Plan (IMTP) that extends out as many years as necessary to collect all data required to demonstrate specific missile defense functions. Phase I - Test Requirements Generation is the process by which the Director of Engineering, with support from Element programs, develops a comprehensive set of prioritized and configured test requirements. The IMTP contains the system-level objectives along with the critical Engagement Conditions (CECs) and Empirical Measurement Events (EMEs) assigned to each event for data collection and model-anchoring purposes. Phase II - Test Design and Planning is designed to realize program objectives within current and future requirements, without imposed cost or resource constraints. Phase III - Aligned and Executable Baseline is to align the Phase II test designs so they are executable, affordable and efficient. The steady state test requirements development process requires the overall three phase approach to be conducted in concert with all supporting organizations. New test requirements will enter the process as the result of new BMDS functionality, test event data collection shortfalls, and other circumstances. The primary output of this process is the IMTP, which will be updated quarterly. Test Planning and Design will also develop detailed test designs and perform necessary feasibility analysis supporting MDA System Engineering, OTA, and Warfighter Test Objectives. The Test Planning and Design organization consists of three sub-components: Test Design, responsible for design of both ground and flight tests; Test Planning, responsible for planning test events; and Test Integration, primarily responsible for configuration management of the IMTP and BMDS Test Baseline. The Test Planning and Design directorate chairs the Test Planning Working Group (TPWG). Test Policy, Budget, and Personnel The Test Policy, Budget, and Personnel program supports the development and implementation of test policy, standards, directives, and procedures for creating unified BMD test processes which reflect the best practices of existing element processes. The Test Policy, Budget, and Personnel program also develops training and certification plans and International policy for the Directorate for Test. The Test Policy, Budget, and Personnel program provides policy and guidance on Knowledge Management (KM) practices, establishing standardized documentation for test planning, test reporting, and data archiving. The program also develops, coordinates, and manages Directorate for Test inputs into the overall BMDS Program Plans, Directorate for Test Base Closure and Realignment Commission (BRAC) related Transition Planning, and relocation of personnel. The program also coordinates Directorate for Test budget planning and execution activities, as well as Test Functional Area (TFA) activities. The Test Policy, Budget, and Personnel program supports two major assessments of the BMDS: The BMDS Capability Assessment (BCA) Team and System-Level Operational Test Agencies` (OTA) assessments. The BCA Team provides a non-advocate, independent assessment of the BMDS throughout its life cycle. Where possible, BCA Team members will recommend changes to the current test program and mitigation efforts to reduce performance degradation, implementation, and integration risks. Operational Test Agency (OTA) funding is consolidated within the Directorate for Test so they can provide operational assessments of the BMDS. The OTA maintains their assessments in the OTA database, which is a living document of the BMDS assessment. Test Readiness and Truth The Test Readiness and Truth program (formerly known as the BMDS Readiness program) is responsible for improving the quality, design, execution, and efficiency of the BMDS test programs in order to produce complete truth data products. The Test Readiness and Truth program is responsible for assuring readiness, training test personnel, ensuring realism, assessing adequacy, and tracking test risk process. The Test Readiness and Truth program will assess readiness processes and metrics for these programs and evaluate the outcomes. Test Readiness and Truth increases the efficiency and effectiveness of the BMDS test program by integrating key strategies and objectives into the Directorate for Test program by identifying and improving test processes. Test Readiness and Truth assesses test adequacy by conducting: Test assessments to identify data voids and unfulfilled objectives; Test design reviews to ensure tests are configured to support assessment activity; and Mission planning meetings to ensure the proper data will be collected for analysis and assessment.

Document Details

• Document Type: Project
• Publication Date: Oct 01, 2011
• Source ID: YX04_0603888C_4_0400_PB_2011

Tags

Readers

• Aerospace Test and Evaluation
• Defense Acquisition Program Management
• Missile Defense Systems.