Initial Operational Test and Eval
The program element funds the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center (AFOTEC) to conduct 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). 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. This PE funds participation in Multiservice Operational Test and Evaluation (MOT&E), and Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) when the continuation of IOT&E activities passed 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. The PE funds related Operational Test & Evaluation (OT&E) activities such as conducting Continuous Operational Testing (COT), Early Influence, agile release tests, Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E), Operational Utility Evaluations (OUE), Early Operational Assessments (EOA), Operational Assessments (OA) and operationally realistic evaluations of advanced technologies which informs military utility determination. These tests support releases and major milestones and decision points prior to Milestone C, full rate production, fielding, or declaration of IOC. IOT&E programs are identified in three system categories: Air; Weapons; and Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR). 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 and/or modernize the installations or operations required for general research, development, test and evaluation.
FY2027 planned work - F-22 Sensor Enhancement: MRAP-C, CVPA, Test Team travel - Radar Modernization Program, B-52 (RMP): CVPA - AFOTEC FTS OASIS Contract Advisory & Assistance Services - AFOTEC Special Project Support Services - Conduct other planning and operational testing for new air system programs as the requirement becomes known to AFOTEC
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increased due to new contractor support cost.
FY2026 plans — current year - F-15EX: Conduct Adversarial Assessment (AA) - F-22 Sensor Enhancement: Conduct Mission Risk Assessment Process for Cyber MRAP-C on R6 and SeE IOT&E, Cooperative Vulnerability and Penetration Assessment CVPA, AA, Test Team travel - MH-139A Grey Wolf: Conduct Adversarial Assessment (AA) - Conduct other planning and operational testing for new air system programs as the requirement becomes known to AFOTEC
FY2027 planned work - Air Intercept Missile-9X, Sidewinder, AIM-9X: MOT&E - C-17 Flight Deck Replacement, C-17 FDR: MRAP-C - Family of Affordable Mass Missiles Palletized (FAMM-PP: AA-1, AA-2, CVPA-1, CVPA-2 - Long Range Stand Off (LRSO): CPVA-1, CVPA-2, IOT&E - SENTINEL: CVPA-1, CVPA-2, MRAP-C - Unified Platform, UP: CVPA, AA - AFOTEC JSE Joint Simulation Environment: M&S Capability Support - AFOTEC Raytheon Support: Contractor Analyst Support in support of AIM120 SIP 4 - AFOTEC Sentinel Intercontinental Test & Evaluation Services (SITES) - Conduct other planning and operational testing for new weapons system programs as the requirement becomes known to AFOTEC
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding increased due to continuing existing efforts and increased cost of test team support/travel.
FY2026 plans — current year -Unified Platform (UP): Conduct CVPA, AA, Contractor Analyst Support -Hypersonic Attack Cruise Missile (HACM): Conduct CVPA, AA -Stand-In Attack Weapon (SiAW): Conduct MRAP-C -SENTINEL: MRAP-C -Long Rand Stand-Off Cruise Missile (LRSO): Conduct CVPA -Conduct other planning and operational testing for new weapons system programs as the requirement becomes known to AFOTEC
FY2027 planned work - Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar, 3DELRR: OUE-1, AA, CVPA, IOT&E, RF Cyber - Advanced Battle Management System Distributable Battle Management Node Tactical Operation Center - Light (ABMS DBMN TOC-1): AA, CVPA - Advanced Battle Management System Digital Infrastructure ABMS-DI: AA, CVPA - Advanced Battle Management System Phalanx Griffon AMBS PG: AA, CVPA, RF Cyber, Ops Demo, MRAP-C - Advanced Battle Management System Cloud Based Command and Control (ABMS-CBC2): AA - T-7A Advanced Pilot Trainer (T-7A APT): AA, CVPA-1, CVPA-2, MRAP-C - B-52 Advanced Extremely High Frequency Integration, B-52 AEHF: CVPA, MRAP-C - E-7A Airborne Early Warning & Control, E-7A AEW&C: CVPA - Air…
FY2026 to FY2027 change Funding decreased due to Department of Air Force (DAF) contractor services reduction cuts.
FY2026 plans — current year - Three-Dimensional Expeditionary Long-Range Radar (3DELRR): Conduct AA 1 TYQ-23 Interface, Contractor Analyst Support - Air Base Air Defense Battle Management Command and Control (ABAD-BMC2): Conduct AA - Advanced Battle Management System Distributable Battle Management Node Tactical Operation Center - Light (ABMS DBMN TOC-1): Conduct AA - Advanced Battle Management System Cloud Based Command and Control (ABMS-CBC2): Conduct CVPA, Contractor Analyst Support - Air Force Integrated Personnel and Pay System (AFIPPS): Conduct CVPA, AA - Air Operations Center Weapon System Block 20 (AOC WS Block 20 Kessel Run All Domain Operations Suite(KRADOS): Conduct CVPA, AA - Global Aircrew Strategic…
FY2027 planned work - AFOTEC Data analytics: Contractor Analyst Support - AFOTEC System Support: Contract Support
FY2026 to FY2027 change -Funding decreased due to test completion of program in Combat Support.
FY2026 plans — current year - Next Generation Ejection Seat (NGES): Conduct CVPA -Conduct other planning and operational testing for new combat support programs as the requirement becomes known to AFOTEC