Brief Topic

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Air Test and Evaluation Squadron THREE ONE
CAPT Eric Holmberg
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Outline

• Organization - where we fit in
• Missions what we do
• NAWC WD Ranges
• Facilities
• Personnel
• Aircraft
• Operations
• Supported Test Activities
• What makes us Unique

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Organization

• Multiple relationships
• NAVAIR
• NAWCWD
• NTWP
• ISEET
• China Lake
• NAWS
• MAD
• VX-9

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Organization NTWP
CAPT Tim MoreyCommander Mr. Mike Laber, Deputy
Shuttle Mgmt Office
P-3/C-130 Transition Program Manager
Mr. Dave GangerOperations Officer
CDR Keith DavisMaintenance Officer
Mr. Grant Kowalchick Safety Officer
VX-31 China LakeCO CAPT Eric Holmberg Deputy
Mr. Tom Pearl Chief Test Pilot CDR Brady
Bartosh
VX-30 Point MuguCO CDR Steve Tedford Deputy
Mr. Gil Anema Chief Test Pilot CDR Rousseau
Ops Officer
Maintenance Officer
Project Liaison Office
Ops Officer
Maintenance Officer
Safety Officer
Project Coordination Officer
Project Coordination Officer
Safety Officer
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China Lake A Unique Navy/Marine/Civilian Test
TeamHigh Desert Residents -
DEVELOPMENTAL TEST
AH-1 Weapons System Support Activity
F/A-18 Advanced Weapons laboratory
Weapons IPT

UAS NUISA/TPO
ARM IPT
INTEGRATED TEST
OPERATIONAL TEST
Air Test Evaluation Squadron NINE (VX-9)
Marine Aviation Detachment
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VX-31 Missions

• Test and Evaluate current and future weapons and
  weapons systems to guarantee they meet or exceed
  combat requirements.
• Be trained and ready to perform inland Search and
  Rescue missions throughout the High Desert.
• Operate the Airborne Test Bed program to provide
  cost-wise support the Navy's research community.

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Facilities
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VX-31 Facts

• Very Complex squadron
• 57 Aircraft (includes 18 UAS)
• 15 TMS Manned Aircraft / 4 TMS Unmanned Aircraft

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Aircraft
UAS aircraft are not currently Contractor
maintained
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Weapons, Sensors Systems
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Supported Test Activities

• F/A-18 EA-18G Advanced Weapons Lab (AWL)
• Location Hangar 5
• Current Programs
• E/A-18G Growler
• SCS Blocks 21X, 23X, H5E, H6E, H7E
• Acquisition Products Radars (APG-65/73/79), AESA
  EP, ATFLIR, LITENING (USMC), VMF, JHMCS,
  Mini-Quadeye, SHARP, IRST, MIDS/JTRS, IDECM Block
  3, ANAV, CIT/Mode S
• A/A Weapon Integration AIM-9X BLK1 2,
  AIM-120C/D
• A/G Weapon Integration BRU-55, JDAM, JSOW,
  SLAM-ER, GBU-XX, DMLGB, HARM, AARGM

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Supported Test Activities

• AV-8B Joint Systems Support Activity (JSSA)
• Location Hangar 3 (VX-31)
• Current Programs
• Software Updates
• H5.0
• Litening Pod on centerline
• Litening Pod Super Wide Field of View
• Dual Mode Laser Guided Bomb Integration
• Height Above Ellipsoid Integration (HAE)
• Digital CAS improvements
• EPLRS radio in Litening Pod allowing for image
  collection/transfer and PLI participant
  information
• Laser JDAM Testing
• New Model for Integrated Test

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H-1 Weapons System Support Activity (WSSA)

• Programs
• AH-1W Sustainment
• Supporting Cobra Dos
• Testing Cobra 3
• Developing Cobra 4
• H-1Y/Z Upgrades (4 bladed)
• Significant upgrade in payload, range and speed
• Recent finish of major DT
• Testing SCS 5.0
• Optimized Top Owl (OTO helmet)
• Important Dates
• UH-1Y Yankee MEU Deployment Jan 2009
• AH-1Z IOC March 2011

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Supported Test Activities

• Weapons IPT
• Location Michelson Lab
• Current Programs
• AIM-9X Block 2
• JDAM (Lot Acceptance Test)
• JSOW (10.3, Block 2, C-1)
• Laser JDAM
• Dual Mode LGB

• JAGM (Joint Air-to-Ground Missile)
• GBU-24X/B (B/B with BLU-121 Warhead)
• BSU-85 (Mk-83 tail kit)
• SLAM-ER moves to NID

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Supported Test Activities

• Anti-Radiation Missile (ARM) IPT
• Location Thompson Lab
• Current Programs
• HARM
• EA-18G Integration
• Software upgrades to address capability gaps.
• AARGM
• Adds
• GPS
• Millimeter Wave
• Improved ARM sensor
• Ongoing developmental test for fielding on
  F/A-18C/D
• 4 Successful DT Live Fires so far
• Initial integration work for EA-18G and
  F/A-18E/F with H8 software

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Supported Test Activities

• Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) IPT
• Location X-Pad, UAS Weaponization Lab
• Current Programs
• Dakota UAS
• Scan eagle
• Raven
• Pioneer
• T-39 Airborne Test bed
• Location Hangar 3 (VX-31)
• Current Programs
• Recent MODs great support capability
• ZIPPER, Mini RF, AST9, Echo Range Calibration

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What Makes Us Unique

• Aircraft and Maintenance
• 15 TMS UASs
• Three very different missions
• Frequent detachments to Pt. Mugu, Nellis,
  Holloman (requires security clearances)
• Daily (hourly) configuration changes
• Software / Hardware / Avionics
• Most tests have a very specific configuration
  that requires a specific aircraft not any F-18
  will do.
• For example need F-18 E/F with H5, AESA, type 2
  MC, with MIDS, JHMCS and instrumentation.
• Almost every aircraft is unique
• Modifications for Data, video, TM, flight test
  software and displays
• Modification for pre-production
  store/weapon/radar/ POD carriage.
• Required to work and interface with civilian
  engineers and prime contractors.
• Ground and flight test support
• They are the only systems experts on new
  developmental systems

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What Makes Us Unique

• Mission Accomplishment Pressure
• War fighter is counting on us daily we deliver
  new capabilities constantly
• Safety unique assets non-operational risk
  of flight test extra caution
• Cost per flight hour extremely high due to
  unique requirements configurations of RDTE
  aircraft
• Scheduling constraints
• Range periods are scheduled weeks in advance and
  are non-refundable
• Program milestones and costs (burn rates) are
  hostage to efficient test squadron.
• Constant Flag level visibility