AWFC plays major role in F/A-22 IOT&E

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NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (ACCNS) --   The Air Warfare Center here is playing a major role in moving Americas premier, state-of-the-art fighter aircraft from a flight test vehicle to a fully-functional combat aircraft.

When the F/A-22 entered Initial Operational Test and Evaluation at Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., April 29, members of the AWFC were there.

Working alongside people from the Air Forces Flight Test and Operational Test and Evaluation Centers, the AWFC prepared the aircraft for IOT&E and is providing aircraft, pilots, maintainers, adversary support, range space and a host of other services throughout one of the most crucial phases of the F/A-22 program since its inception.

The entire AWFC and Nellis team has been crucial to reaching this very important F/A-22 milestone said Col. Ken Murphy, 53rd Test and Evaluation Group commander. Two AWFC Raptors are on loan to AFOTEC until the completion of IOT&E and a third Nellis-assigned aircraft is being prepped for loan to Edwards for pilot proficiency missions during IOT&E. AWFC pilots, assigned to the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron at Edwards, comprise the majority of the aircrew flying IOT&E missions as well.

Many other AWFC people have also supported preparations for IOT&E, including maintainers, intelligence analysts, engineers and pilots, said Lt. Col. Dan Holmes, 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron F/A-22 operations officer.

Personnel from the 53rd Electronic Warfare Group from both Nellis and Eglin Air Force Base, Fla., were equally vital according to Colonel Holmes.

The EWG engineers and analysts provided Edwards F/A-22 Combined Test Force with the threat data and analysis required for effective Raptor employment. They had to gather massive amounts of information on various threat systems and deliver it in a format the F/A-22 could then use during simulated IOT&E simulated combat missions.

One of the biggest contributors to the IOT&E effort from Nellis is the 64th Aggressor Squadron which is providing the red air forces that will challenge the F/A-22 throughout IOT&E.

The AGRS are the unsung heroes of the F/A-22 program said Colonel Murphy. These guys are experts in red air systems, tactics and employment, and they provide a very high-fidelity threat for us to evaluate Raptor performance against.

Another major source of IOT&E support at Nellis is the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron.

Since most of the IOT&E flying is accomplished on the Nellis ranges, we have several AFOTEC personnel operating out of the 422nd monitoring our test and training flights, said Colonel Murphy. The 422nd TES also supported the F/A-22-F-15 comparison testing and First Look-First Kill test. Our professional aviators and the maintenance support from the 57th MXG have been phenomenal throughout.

In addition to its role in the preparation and execution of IOT&E, the AWFC continues to prepare for follow-on testing.

Starting early next year well begin our force development evaluation, said Colonel Holmes. This will include a validation of the latest F/A-22 software, extensive evaluation of the air-to-ground missionincluding the employment of the GPS-guided Joint Direct Attack Munitionand night-vision goggle testing. Our objective is to provide validated tactics and software to Langley Air Force Base (the first operational F/A-22 base) no later than June 2005. With initial operational capability slated for December 2005, this will give them six full months to fly and train so they are ready to go on day one.