 |
|
||
| FY99 Annual Report | |||
JOINT TEST AND EVALUATION (JT&E)
INTRODUCTION
The Joint Test and Evaluation (JT&E) Program is designed to provide quantitative information for analysis of joint military capabilities and potential options for increasing military effectiveness. The program is complimentary to, but not a part of, the weapons acquisition process. A JT&E project brings together two or more Military Departments or other Components to:
- Assess the interoperability of Service systems in joint operations.
- Evaluate improvements in joint technical and operational concepts.
- Evaluate and validate multi-Service testing methodologies.
- Assess performance of interacting systems under realistic joint operational conditions.
- Provide data from joint field tests and exercises to validate models, simulations and test beds.
With the reorganization of T&E within the Office of the Secretary of Defense, there have been several changes in the processes for JT&E. The JT&E Program is now managed by the Director, Strategic and Tactical Systems (D,S&TS). Both DOT&E and D, S&TS approve JT&E charters as well as test plans. A Senior Advisory Council prioritizes specific JT&E projects after a Defense-wide nomination process and subsequent feasibility studies. The Senior Advisory Council is co-chaired by DOT&E and D,S&TS, and includes representatives from the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Command, Control, Communications, and Intelligence and the Military Departments.
There are currently ten ongoing joint test projects at various stages of execution that are summarized on the following pages. The Joint Combat Search and Rescue project has been completed and the final test report is summarized as well. The last two listed projects were feasibility studies that transitioned to active JT&E projects this year. Another one of last year's feasibility studies, the Military Alert Broadcast System, was cancelled. The current active joint tests are:
- Joint Advanced Distributed Simulation.
- Joint Electronic Combat Testing Using Simulation.
- Joint Suppression of Enemy Air Defense.
- Joint Theater Missile Defense Attack Operations.
- Joint Close Air Support.
- Joint Warfighters.
- Joint Theater Distribution.
- Joint Shipboard Helicopter Integration Process.
- Joint Cruise Missile Defense.
- Joint Global Positioning System in a Battlespace Environment.
In addition to the ongoing joint tests there are two ongoing feasibility studies. Upon completion of a one-year study period, these potential projects will be reviewed by the Senior Advisory Council and some or all will be selected as full joint test projects. Current feasibility studies are listed below, but since they do not have any test activity they are not reported in this year's annual report.
- Joint Battle Damage Assessment.
- Joint Command and Control, Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance.
