The Pentagon’s Director of Operational Test and Evaluation has released its annual report on the Defense Department’s Fiscal 2013 live fire and operational testing activities. This includes some of the Air Force’s highest priority programs, such as the F-35 (see entry below). In the introduction, OT&E Director J. Michael Gilmore said testing has progressed in several of the services’ leading programs. However, DOD must focus on aligning acquisition requirements with actual mission needs and making sure these requirements reflect real-world employment scenarios. Requirements should be more reflective of operational employment, he noted. Gilmore added that since 2009, the DOT&E office has made progress in increasing the scientific and statistical rigor of its testing oversight responsibility in several programs, and has focused on improving “reliability management,” design, and growth testing, as well as better tracking of testing in software-intensive programs.
The new defense reconciliation bill includes $7.2 billion for Air Force and Navy aviation accounts, almost half of which will buy more F-15EXs. While electronic warfare, drones, connectivity and airlift all get attention, the F-35 was conspicuously absent from the package, with no explanation given.