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USSF Space Test Enterprise
Vision integrates test across capability lifecycles
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. Nick Hague,
director, Space Force Test Enterprise. “Our
Guardians, in addition to our systems, must be
resilient to operations in the harsh environment of
launch and on-orbit conditions as well as against
current and evolving threats. Proper testing
elucidates a system’s ‘operational envelope’ that
Guardians need for optimum full-spectrum
operations.”
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. To realize this approach,
Integrated Test Forces are being stood up to serve
as the foundational test execution elements; they
will fuse developmental and operational testing as
well as provide independent government evaluation of
operational suitability, effectiveness, and
survivability.
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. STARCOM kicked off
the NSTTC operational planning in late 2021 in
coordination with Space Systems Command and
Headquarters U.S. Space Force. The operational
planning team developed capabilities roadmaps, which
will continuously evolve with national security
needs and innovations in technology. 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.
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