The Role of Operational Test and Evaluation in the Air Force Aircraft Acquisition Process.

The purpose of this report was to assess the current role of operational test and evaluation (OT and E) and the Air Force Test and Evaluation Center (AFTEC) in the AF aircraft acquisition process. Additionally, it was intended to provide recommendations to the program manager (PM) on ways to ensure adequate coverage of OT and E requirements in his program. A trace of the OT and E policy in DOD and AF from 1970 until 1976 leads to an analysis of the new DOD draft Test and Evaluation Directive 5000.3, dated 7 March 77. This revision to DOD T and E policy emphasizes earlier operator involvement and combined development and operational testing in the acquisition process. A series of interviews with DOD and AF officials was used to compare the current perceptions of the role and effectiveness of IOT and E and AFTEC. The AFTEC view of itself is compared with the other viewpoints expressed in the interviews. Finally, the paper makes recommendations to the PM as to how he can better ensure that he includes all valid operational requirements in his test program. The areas covered are establishing the baseline, organizing and planning with primary emphasis on the latter.