USSF Space Test Enterprise Vision integrates test across capability lifecycles

Thu, 12 May 2022 05:31:14 GMT
Space Daily

Arlington VA (AFNS) May 11, 2022 The Space Force has released its Space Test Enterprise Vision to...

The Space Force has released its Space Test Enterprise Vision to communicate the service's intent and provide the amplifying guidance needed to execute the Space Force's test and evaluation mission.

"The test vision and the associated test culture it portends are critical elements of the Guardian Ideal and our core values," said Gen. David D. Thompson, Vice Chief of Space Operations.

"While we expect every Guardian to be bold and innovative in pursuit of concepts and capabilities that protect U.S. interests in space, the commitment to mastery of our missions also demands that we be confident in the effectiveness of those capabilities. Test - integrated test - gives us that confidence."

The vision provides strategic guidance on how the USSF will integrate developmental and operational test and evaluation activities across a capability's lifecycle and throughout the test enterprise encompassing organizations, workforce, infrastructure, acquisition and operations.

"Just as air, land, maritime, and cyber forces evaluate their systems against adversarial capabilities, space now requires the realism of a contested environment and a robust independent test capability," said Col.

An enterprise-wide approach to integrated test allows the cultivation of a test culture that promotes warfighter influence on system development by using intentional workforce crossflow between acquisition, test, and operations within mission-focused areas.

Space Training and Readiness Command serves as the service focal point for the test enterprise to promote efficient execution and resourcing, and to maintain comprehensive awareness of independent government test efforts to include developmental test, operational test, Tactics, Techniques, and Procedures validation, and Weapon System Evaluation activities.

"USSF has a unique opportunity to build a fully integrated test and evaluation system from the outset, providing independent, credible, relevant information on vital warfighting capabilities," said Maj. Gen. Shawn Bratton, commander, STARCOM. "In addition to our Space Force partners, we will look to our industry partners to help us develop the National Space Test and Training Complex into the world-class test and training complex our Guardians need."

The NSTTC construct is a deliberate and configurable set of test and training capabilities, which enables the USSF to build an accredited, digital representation of the National Security Space Enterprise and the joint warfighting environment that space serves.

The Complex will be lean, efficient, and interoperable with other joint test infrastructure, supporting multiple interests within the USSF to include developmental test, operational test, and advanced training.