Test & Evaluation

Qualification Test and Evaluation (QT&E) is performed by government test representatives and is a tailored type of DT&E for which there is little to no RDT&E-funded development effort. It validates how a system integrates into its intended environment, how it meets specified requirements in accordance with the approved design, and how it meets performance standards. […]

There are two tests that are performed by the Joint Interoperability Test Center (JITC) to certify and validate a system is ready for operational fielding. These two (2) tests are: Joint Interoperability Test Certification Joint Interoperability Test Validation Website: Joint Interoperability Test Center (JITC) (1) Joint Interoperability Test Certification The Joint Interoperability Test Certification is

Anti-Tamper (AT) is tested and verified during Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E) and Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E). The Program Manager (PM) develops the validation plan and provides the necessary funding for the AT Verification and Validation (V&V) on actual or representative system components. Definition: Anti-Tamper is the systems engineering activities intended to deter and/or

A Test Readiness Review (TRR) is conducted to determine if the system under review is ready to proceed into formal testing by deciding whether the test procedures are complete and verifying their compliance with test plans and descriptions. A TRR is normally conducted before each major test configuration item, including hardware and software, and assures

The National Defense Authorization Act of 2003 directed the DoD to establish a DoD Test Resource Management Center (DTRMC).  The DTRMC provides oversight for T&E strategic planning and budgets for the Department’s T&E activities including: Major Range and Test Facility Base (MRTFB) Central Test and Evaluation Investment Program (CTEIP) T&E Science and Technology (S&T) Program

The Deputy for Test and Evaluation (T&E) should have approval authority for all contractor-created test plans, procedures, and reports. They must have access to all contractor’s testing and test results and is responsible for data disseminating. They also create report formats and timelines for contractor submittal and government approval. [1] Guide: DAU Test and Management

The T&E Working-level Integrated Product Team (T&E WIPT) guides the development of a Test and Evaluation Strategy TES) and guides the execution of the Test and Evaluation (T&E) program. It should be established as early as possible during Material Solutions Analysis (MSA), and it should be chaired by a program office representative. Membership should consist

  Congressional Oversight requires the DoD to provide the following reports to include information on T&E: Selected Acquisition Report (SAR) Annual System Operational Test Report Beyond Low Rate Initial Production (BLRIP) Report Foreign Comparative Test (FCT) Report   DoD System Testing Process and Procedures Documentation: DoD Directive 5000.1 “The Defense Acquisition System”: The Directives addressed

The Program Manager (PM) is required to provide Test and Evaluation (T&E) reports to OSD T&E for 1) Developmental Test and Evaluation (DT&E), 2) Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E), and 3) Live-Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E).  These reports go to the Director, Operational Test and Evaluation and Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition, Technology and

The Role of Test and Evaluation (T&E) at Milestone B: At Milestone B or beyond, a Test Evaluation Master Plan (TEMP) is required in lieu of the T&E Strategy. The TEMP focuses on the overall structure, major elements, and objectives of the T&E program. If applicable, the TEMP must contain a mature strategy that commits to

Test resources have many conflicting demands, and their use must be scheduled well in advance of a test. Resources specific to a particular test must often be developed and funded from the Program Managers (PM) own Research and Development (R&D) Test and Evaluation (T&E) budget. Thus, the PM and testers must ensure that test resource

Reliability Growth Testing supports improvements in system and component Reliability over time through a systematic process of stressing the system to identify failure modes and design weaknesses. The emphasis in reliability growth testing is in finding failure modes. The reliability of the system is improved, or experiences growth, as the design is modified to eliminate

The Program Manager (PM) is ultimately responsible for all aspects of the system development, including testing. The Deputy for Test and & Evaluation (T&E) is normally authorized by the PM to conduct all duties in the area of T&E. [1] In government acquisition programs, there should be an element dedicated to the management of T&E.

The Operational Test Readiness Review (OTRR) assesses if a system should proceed into Initial Operational Test and Evaluation (IOT&E).  The review addresses and verifies system reliability, maintainability, and supportability performance and determines if the hazards and Environmental, Safety, Occupational, and Health (ESOH) residual risks are manageable within the planned testing operations. Purpose of the Operational

Production Acceptance Test & Evaluation (PAT&E) is a Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E) activity. It ensures that production items demonstrate the fulfillment of the requirements and specifications of the procuring contract or agreements. The testing also ensures the system being produced demonstrates the same performance as the pre-Full Rate Production models. The procured items or

An Operational Assessment (OA) is an evaluation of operational effectiveness and operational suitability made by an independent Operational Test Agency (OTA), with user support as required, on other than production systems. [2] The focus of an OA is on significant trends noted in development efforts, programmatic voids, risk areas, adequacy of requirements, and the ability

Nuclear Hardness and Survivability (NH&S) is a quantitative description of the physical attributes and capability of a system or component that will allow it to survive in a given nuclear environment and continue to accomplish its mission. DoD policy requires the incorporation of NH&S features in the design, acquisition, and operation of major and nonmajor

Multi-Service Test and Evaluation is conducted by two or more Department of Defense (DoD) Components.  It’s conducted for systems that will be acquired by more than one DoD component, or for a system that interfaces with another DoD component. All affected Services and their respective Operational Test Agencies (OTAs) participate in planning, conducting, reporting, and

The testing of Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) weapons is highly specialized and regulated. Program Managers (PM) involved in these areas are advised to consult authorities within their chain of command for the specific directives, instructions, and regulations that apply to their individual situations. Nuclear weapons tests are divided into categories in which the responsibilities

  The use of Modeling and Simulation (M&S) in Test and Evaluation (T&E) provides test data to support system concept exploration. It provides valuable information that can increase confidence levels, decrease field test time and costs, and provide data for pre-test prediction and post-test validation. M&S in T&E can be divided into three (3) categories:

The Live-Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) Waiver is from the legal statute in 10 USC 2366 that requires “Full-Up, System-Level Testing (FUSL), realistic survivability testing”.  The statute requires a LFT&E program to include FUSL testing unless a waiver is granted.  A waiver package must be sent to the Congressional defense committees prior to Milestone B.

Measures of Effectiveness (MOE) are measure designed to correspond to accomplishment of mission objectives and achievement of desired results. They quantify the results to be obtained by a system and may be expressed as probabilities that the system will perform as required. The Capability Based Assessment (CBA) defines the MOE’s and articulates them in the

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

Live-Fire Test and Evaluation (LFT&E) is an assessment of the vulnerability and lethality of a system as it progresses through Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E) prior to Full-Rate Production (FRP). LFT&E typically includes testing at the component, subassembly, and subsystem level, and may also draw upon design analyses, modeling and simulation, combat data, and related