Test & Evaluation

Live-Fire Test & Evaluation (LFT&E) Report

The Live-Fire Test & Evaluation (LFT&E) Report must be sent to Congress prior to the Full-Rate Production Decision (FRPD) in the Acquisition Life Cycle. It’s required from all programs covered by the Live Fire Testing Section in Title 10, US Code. The LFT&E Report informs Congress of the results of Lethality and Vulnerability testing.  The report is prepared by the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) on survivability and lethality testing.[1]

  • Submitted to the Congress for covered systems prior to the decision to proceed beyond Low-Rate Initial Production (LRIP).
  • Prepared within 45 days of receiving the component LFT&E Report, which is required by DoD Instruction 5000.02. If the system is designated for both Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) and LFT&E oversight, DOT&E may choose to combine the LFT&E and Beyond Low Rate Initial Production (BLRIP) Report under a single cover, so as to better integrate the reporting of LFT&E and OT&E.
  • Describes the results of the survivability or lethality LFT&E.
  • Assesses whether the LFT&E was adequate to provide information to decision-makers on potential user casualties and system vulnerability or lethality when the system is employed in combat, and to ensure that knowledge of user casualties and system vulnerabilities or lethality is based on realistic testing, consideration of the validated statement of desired operational capabilities, the expected threat, and susceptibility to attack.

REGULATORY:  Programs on the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) Oversight List for LFT&E oversight only; due upon completion of LFT&E. [1]

There are two (2) reports which must be sent to Congress prior to the Full-Rate Production Decision (FRPD) in the Acquisition Life Cycle.

  1. Live Fire Test & Evaluation (LFT&E) Report
  2. Beyond Low Rate Initial Production (BLRIP) Report

AcqLinks and References:

Updated: 6/5/2018

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