ARMY AL&T
The direction to take an ACAT 1D program in the middle of its qualifi cation testing, Army-based training, and LRIP phase and transfer it to another service was unprecedented.
conducted at the Naval Air Systems Command Patuxent River, MD, facil- ity. With the conclusion of E3 tests and the arrival of aircrews, fl ight test began with airdrops at Yuma Proving Ground, AZ. This PQT was followed with test- ing for aircraft survivability at the U.S. Navy’s (USN’s) China Lake facility, CA, and the USAF’s Eglin test ranges, FL. Aircraft Survivability Equipment (ASE) testing efforts also involved the use of F-18D/Tiger pods, infrared mod- els, threat signal processor in the loop, modeling and simulation (M&S) fl are solution development, and chaff and preemptive fl are solution.
PQT also validates the C-27J’s six key performance parameters:
• Unimproved runway takeoff and landing.
• Self-deployment. • Transloadability. • Survivability. • Force protection. • Net readiness.
In addition, the program has also undergone a Live Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) to determine the C-27J’s survivability (susceptibility and vulnerability) against ballistic and advanced threats. In particular, LFT&E consisted of completing “hardware” testing on nine components/subsystems and completing two complex ballistic vulnerability analyses. To ensure LFT&E Title X compliance before the C-27Js’ Full-Rate Production (FRP) decision, the program offi ce mitigated scheduled risk by concurrently employing major ranges and test facility bases (MRTFBs) of each service. A signifi cant LFT&E accomplishment was achieved the week
28 APRIL –JUNE 2010
of May 18, 2009, when fi ve separate JCA LFT&E ballistic test events were simultaneously completed at Army, USAF, and USN MRTFBs. In addition to live-fi re testing, the JPO also used design analyses, M&S, and analysis to determine aircraft survivability given existing combat data. Again, DOD has cited the program as a model example on how to conduct a compre- hensive LFT&E.
Testing will conclude in 2010 when MOT&E ends. MOT&E will assess operational effectiveness, suitabil- ity, and survivability. The Army’s Operational Test Command will serve as the Operational Test Agency with support from the USAF Operational Test and Evaluation Center. This joint test team will evaluate the Army and USAF aircrews from Training Class 2.
Besides training and testing, the program offi ce is also responsible for ensuring that the C-27J obtains a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Type Certifi cate (TC) along with a military airworthiness certifi cate for its peculiar mission equipment (PME), which includes ASE, public service radio, blue force tracker, secure voice communications, ARC-210 satellite communication radios, and ballistic protection armor. The U.S. Army Aviation Engineering Directorate will issue a Fielding Airworthiness Release based on the FAA’s issuance of a TC
and its engineering review of PME substantiating data and test reports.
Joint Cooperation In April 2009, Resource Management Decision (RMD) 802 changed the program’s direction when it mandated reduction of the procurement quantity from 78 to 38, and transfer of both the program and the direct support airlift mission it supports from the Army to the USAF. The direction to take an ACAT 1D program in the middle of its qualification testing, Army-based training, and Low-Rate Initial Pro- duction (LRIP) phase and transfer it to another service was unprecedented. Though disappointed over the loss of the program, the Army did not let this deter its support of the acquisi- tion program. Within weeks, the Army met with its USAF counterparts, who agreed to let the Army continue to execute the program until the FRP decision to ensure uninterrupted program execution and delivery of capability to the field in 2010.
Joint briefings by the Department of the Army and USAF’s Air Mobility Command to the Joint Capabilities Board, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Deputy’s Advisory Working Group fol- lowing RMD 802 cemented the path forward and the activities required. In September 2009, the VCSs for the USAF and Army signed an MOA,
The Aviation Flight Test Directorate Survivability Equipment Joint Test Team is pictured with a C-27J Spartan. (Photo courtesy of the Aviation Flight Test Directorate.)
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72
