ATEC Activities
This project provides funding to the Army Test and Evaluation Command (ATEC) to operate the Operational Test Command (OTC) which conducts independent operational tests that provide significant data to Army decision makers on key systems in support of the Army's transformation priorities. These operational tests are required by public law (Title 10 USC 2399). This project finances recurring costs for OTC that are essential to conduct realistic and continuous testing in the critical areas of equipment, doctrine, force design and training. These recurring costs include civilian pay, requirements for test support contracts, sustainment of test technology, network support, training, supplies, equipment, and temporary duty travel. OTC consists of four forward Test Directorates (Airborne and Special Operations Test Directorate, Fort Bragg, North Carolina; Air and Missile Defense Test Directorate, Fort Bliss, Texas; Fires Support Test Directorate, Fort Sill, Oklahoma; and the Intelligence Electronic Warfare Test Directorate, Fort Huachuca, Arizona) together with four additional Test Directorates (Aviation; Maneuver; Mission Command; Maneuver Support and Sustainment) and OTC Headquarters at Fort Cavazos, Texas. These activities support the development and fielding cycle of all Army acquisition programs including rapid fielding initiatives in support of the Army's Transformation Initiatives. The primary mission of these test directorates is to perform detailed planning, execution, and reporting of Customer Tests, Early User Tests, Limited User Tests (LUT), Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOTE), and Follow-On Operational Tests (FOT) in support of the Army's Signature Transformation Efforts. OTC also supports Army Futures Command's Soldier Touch Points and other early assessments of potential new systems the Army seeks to acquire in support of Army transformation. Funding provides essential sustainment of models, simulations, and instrumentation for operational testing of airborne/aviation systems, mission command systems, fires systems, intelligence systems, real-time casualty assessment (RTCA), and common live-virtual-constructive (LVC) tools.
Continue to support the costs associated with the OTC civilian workforce for operational testing in support of a subset of Army and DoW acquisition programs, focusing on high priority requests.
Read the FY2027 plan →FY2027 planned work Streamlined support for operations including mission support and information technology contracts, logistics, training, equipment, travel, and supplies that are required to conduct the operational test mission. Contracted support includes test support requirements; information technology (IT) and network support and licensing; facilities maintenance and technology modernization updates.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease is due to economic assumption.
FY2026 plans — current year Support for operational costs including mission support and information technology contracts, logistics, training, equipment, travel, and supplies that are required to conduct the operational test mission. Contracted support includes test support requirements; information technology (IT) and network support and licensing; facilities maintenance and technology modernization updates.
FY2025 accomplishments Operational costs including mission support and information technology contracts, logistics, training, equipment, travel, and supplies that are required to conduct the operational test mission. Contracted support includes test support requirements; information technology (IT) and network support and licensing; facilities maintenance and technology modernization updates.
FY2027 planned work Streamlined support to OTC Test Technology Support Service contracts and Test Technology life-cycle support costs that sustain existing technology systems to provide a realistic multi-domain operational environment with modern kinetic and non-kinetic battlefield effects, provide test monitoring and control, and provide the data collection and analysis tools for Army transformation efforts primarily at OTC's five geographical locations at Fort Cavazos, Fort Bragg, Fort Bliss, Fort Sill and Fort Huachuca.
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decrease is due to economic assumption.
FY2026 plans — current year Funds support all OTC Test Technology Support Service contracts and Test Technology life-cycle support costs that sustain existing technology systems to provide a realistic multi-domain operational environment with modern kinetic and non-kinetic battlefield effects, provide test monitoring and control, and provide the data collection and analysis tools for Army transformation efforts primarily at OTC's five geographical locations at Fort Cavazos, Fort Bragg, Fort Bliss, Fort Sill and Fort Huachuca.
FY2025 accomplishments Funds support all OTC Test Technology Support Service contracts that sustain existing technology systems to provide a realistic multi-domain operational environment with modern kinetic and non-kinetic battlefield effects, provide test monitoring and control, and provide the data collection and analysis tools for the Army modernization efforts at OTC's all five geographical locations at Fort Cavazos, Fort Bragg, Fort Bliss, Fort Sill and Fort Huachuca.