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Necessary DoD Range Capabilities to Ensure Operational Superiority of U.S. Defense Systems Testing for the Future Fight (2021) / Chapter Skim
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5 Speed-to-Field: Restructuring the Requirements and Resources Processes for DoD Test Ranges
Pages 92-103

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From page 92...
... This chapter summarizes the challenges with current range infrastructure investments processes and lays a foundation for Congress and DoD work together to ensure appropriate funding to modernize and recapitalize DoD ranges in order to meet the needs of the modern battlefield and the intricacies of modern weapon systems. The emphasis of this chapter is how DoD can better determine current and future testing needs, evaluate the existing range capabilities, identify range facility shortfalls, develop strategies to fund both current operations and long-term capital investments, and improve speed-to-field.
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From page 93...
... PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS DRIVE RANGE FUNDING INVESTMENTS Test range operating and maintenance costs are funded by their owning service, but some execution costs are reimbursed by the test cus­tomers. Each program has a set of T&E requirements that are typically established in the acquisition cycle of the program.
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From page 94...
... However, consistent and aggregated data appears to be FIGURE 5.1  Department of Defense (DoD) institutional funding sources for test ranges, including Major Range and Test Facility Base Investments and Modernization (MRTFB I&M)
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From page 95...
... Requests for test resources are also outlined in the TEMP. Range Funding from Service Programs Each of the services has an understanding of its own test ranges and capabilities and is tasked with managing and operating its designated MRTFB activities.
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From page 96...
... Investment Programs to Support Range Modernization For priority areas listed in the National Defense Strategy, the services and the test ranges have additional resources outside the program funds for building test capabilities and infrastructure. TRMC administers approximately $500 million in investments annually to address shortfalls in T&E capabilities.
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From page 97...
... ATR personnel also said that additional range modernization would be possible with their existing level of resources but that the severe limitations on mixing funding streams cannot accommodate shifting priorities or emerging test needs. Maintenance and Repair of Test Ranges Many test facilities with aging infrastructure still have high usage rates.
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From page 98...
... STRATEGIES TO IMPROVE TEST RANGE MODERNIZATION If test and evaluation processes are initiated in the formative stages of a program, the test ranges can provide feedback on the test requirements based on available range capabilities and resources. Should the program tests require new capabilities or infrastructure repair, this strategy will maximize the time available to the ranges to prioritize investments in
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From page 99...
... The Joint Requirements Oversight Council (JROC) , which charters and oversees efforts to develop joint operational and integrating concepts for joint missions during joint concept development, provides a unique opportunity for the services to examine validated test infrastructure requirements for connected concurrent kill chains and MDOs.
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From page 100...
... Test investment programs historically achieve expenditure benchmarks in their third year, and applying Office of the Secretary of Defense (OSD) expenditure benchmarks to the beginning of a test modernization effort can place critical test technologies at risk of not getting started or maintaining funding as well as limiting range modernization to test advanced technologies.
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From page 101...
... For example, a program may identify a data analysis platform or virtual environment early in the acquisition process, but advances in those technologies could affect testing costs. Additionally, as acquisition cycles become shorter, test ranges need to access resources for modernizing their capabilities quickly.
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From page 102...
... Identified barriers in policy, regulation, or statute to iden tification and documenting validated test infrastructure requirements, range modernization, and sustainment of new or orphaned capabilities.
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From page 103...
... 2019. McCain National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019.
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Key Terms

  • range modernization
  • test range
  • operational test
  • military construction
  • operational testing

  • deferred maintenance
  • test resource
  • acquisition cycle
  • test facility
  • test capabilities

  • test infrastructure
  • test requirements
  • test capability
  • test facilities
  • acquisition program

  • investment program
  • dod ranges
  • testing requirements
  • aging infrastructure
  • minor military

  • defense authorization
  • expenditure rates
  • concurrent kill
  • dod test
  • program test

  • environment test
  • validated test
  • atlantic test
  • critical test
  • central test


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