Major T&E Investment - Space

Space Operational Test and Evaluation refers to Congressionally mandated Space 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 (FRP), fielding, and declaration of Initial Operational Capability (IOC). For Major Defense Acquisition Programs (MDAP), Title 10 USC 2399 requires IOT&E to be completed under realistic operating conditions before proceeding beyond LRIP. IOT&E will be planned to answer all Critical Operational Issues (COI) as thoroughly as possible. IOT&E is conducted to determine operational effectiveness and suitability and resolve overall mission capability of systems undergoing Research and Development (R&D) efforts. It is an evaluation of a system's performance when the complete system is tested and evaluated against operational criteria by personnel with the same qualifications as those who will operate, maintain and support the system when deployed. In general, IOT&E is performed on new systems in development, major modifications, and other systems as directed. This project provides funding for the USSF Operational Test Agency's participation in Integrated Test and Evaluation (IT&E). Additionally, it funds the Multi-service Operational Test and Evaluation (MOT&E) and Follow-on Operational Test and Evaluation (FOT&E) when it is the continuation of IOT&E activities past the FRP decision. FOT&E answers specific questions about unresolved COIs and test issues or completes areas not finished during the IOT&E. This effort also funds related Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) activities such as Early Influence (EI), Operational Utility Evaluations (OUE), Early Operational Assessments (EOA), and Operational Assessments (OA) which are independent OT&Es supporting major milestones and decision points, FRP, fielding, or declaration of IOC for USSF programs. USSF schedules and executes tests according to the forecasted test readiness of the MDAP program offices.

This project provides funding for the organizations, training, and activities required to develop a professional space T&E workforce, in conjunction with the USSF Chief Human Capital Officer. Funding primarily supports the development of the Space Test Course (STC) as the United States Air Force (USAF) Test Pilot School (TPS). The STC at USAF TPS will provide graduate-level education for the core space T&E workforce.

Provide space warfighters with interconnected, scalable, high-fidelity and distributed physical and digital ranges for full-spectrum test and training to develop, validate, and sharpen joint warfighting capabilities necessary to prevail and enable space superiority that is essential to achieve peace through strength.