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Further Reading

	Director, Operational Test & Evaluation
	FY99 Annual Report

SYSTEM DESCRIPTION & CONTRIBUTION TO JOINT VISION 2010

The Joint Shipboard Helicopter Integration Process (JSHIP) Joint Task Force is chartered to develop and evaluate a standard process for the integration of multi-Service rotorcraft, aircrews, and embarked units aboard air capable U.S. Navy ships. The JSHIP Joint Task Force will conduct flight tests, critical measurements, engineering analyses, and simulations to provide recommended changes to Joint tactics, techniques, and procedures; training syllabi; and rotorcraft/ship designs that will enhance safe rotorcraft-ship interoperability.

The JSHIP Joint Test and Evaluation (JT&E) program was chartered by OSD on July 22, 1998, following the completion and acceptance of a Joint Feasibility Study initiated in June 1997. All Services and Unified Commands are designated as participants, with the Navy as the lead service and executive agent for the program. A General Officers Steering Committee was established to provide the Joint Test Director a forum for senior-level counsel and advice. The JSHIP program has identified facilities, is in the process of becoming staffed, and has completed an Analysis Plan for Assessment.

The program has hosted warfighter conferences with multi-Service representation to identify test assets and more closely identify current issues as viewed by the operational forces. The program has detailed test team members to observe Navy/Marine Corps at sea exercises as the initial effort to baseline the "standard operations and practices" currently in existence. A total of twelve dedicated at sea tests were determined to be adequate for the development of the process for certification of Army and Air Force helicopters to operate onboard Navy ships. The JSHIP program office completed the Program Test Plan and Data Management and Analysis Plan and gained DOT&E approval in September 1999. The first of the twelve dedicated at sea tests was conducted aboard USS SAIPAN (LHA 2) the first week of November 1999.

The program is in the process of coordinating with personnel from the NASA Ames Vertical Motion Simulator (VMS) group to integrate the JSHIP Dynamic Interface Modeling and Simulation System (DIMSS) with VMS to create a UH-60 cockpit trainer for UH-60/LHA simulations and analyses. The DIMSS Validation, Verification, and Accreditation Plan has been prepared for review and approval by the Naval Air Warfare Center.

The prioritized, primary rotorcraft-ship test pairs selected for test and evaluation over the life of the program include U/MH-60L with a LHA, A/MH-6 with a LHD, MH-60K with a CVN, A/MH-6 with a CG, MH-47E with a LHA, MH-47E with a CVN, AH-64D with a LHD, AH-64D with a CVN, H-58D with a CG, and H-47D with a CVN.

DOT&E concurs with JSHIP's plan of action for JT&E and their plan to use the integrated DIMSS software package and VMS assets to support pilot training and rotorcraft-ship dynamic interface analysis.