Public Affairs, Volume 63, Number 56
Serving the community of Edwards Air Force Base California www.edwards.af.mil - www.facebook.com/EdwardsAirForceBase
Aug. 26, 2016
F-35 surges forward with record-breaking weapons tests By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
Test pilot Scott McLaren launches an AIM-9X airto-air missile during weapons surge testing. The recent surge resulted in many firsts, including the first air-to-air kill of a drone for the F-35. (Photo by Jonathon Case/Lockheed Martin)
The F-35 Integrated Test Force here recently completed 25 missions comprised of 12 Weapons Delivery Accuracy and 13 weapon separation tests as part of a month-long weapons firing test surge. Historically, WDAs take place once a month given the myriad of coordination required. The highest number previously accomplished in a month was three in November of 2014 during block 2B software testing. Maj. Charles Trickey, interim director of operations for the 461st Flight Test Squadron, flew the final mission of the surge Aug. 17. The mission was completed at White Sands, where the F-35s shot two Advanced Medium Range Air to Air Missiles at a QF-4 Drone. “Some of these WDAs were particularly challenging events,” Trickey said. He said the final mission was actually the fourth attempt to complete this test. “It was really cool to see the satisfaction of the team, and to get that feeling of accomplishment after doing something that challenging.” All told, the ITF deployed 30 weapons in 31 days, which included 12 WDAs, and 13 separa-
tions, according to Trickey. “30 separations in 31days; that’s never been done before in flight test,” said Capt. Brett Tillman, a flight test engineer with the 461st. “The fact that we could get everything together to do that number of separations in that few days is pretty amazing.” These successful test events — performed using the F-35’s newest block 3F software — demonstrated the accuracy of the aircraft. Five of the test events featured dropping multiple weapons. The effort for this surge wasn’t limited to the F-35 Test Team. There were a number of units outside the ITF that put in extra effort and time to make the surge successful, including Edwards airfield operations, Edwards tanker operations, the 416th Flight Test Squadron and the F-35 Joint Program Office. The F-35 weapons test team was given exclusive use of the Sea Test Range, an instrumented Pacific Ocean test area off the central coast near Point Mugu Naval Air Station, California. Tests were also conducted at the U.S. Navy’s China Lake Weapons Range, California and the White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico.
See Weapons, page 3
Former AFMC commander talks innovation, third offset By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Innovation and the Third U.S. Offset Strategy were the topics brought forth by retired Air Force Gen. Gregory S. Martin, who spoke to members of Team Edwards Aug. 24 in the base theater. The 412th Test Wing and its innovation team have been encouraging new ideas and processes to pave the way for the future in test and to improve efficiency in general. To help with that encouragement, the wing invited Martin out to meet with the 412th TW Innovation Team and speak to the Edwards workforce.
Martin retired from the Air Force in 2005 as commander of Air Force Materiel Command after serving 35 years on active duty. He has become an independent consultant and serves on several aerospace industry advisory boards. He also has served as a mentor to the joint staff of the DOD. Innovation and change are intertwined and Martin gave some insight on how to develop an innovation culture. The biggest part is to have the right mindset. “You have to be thinking at your boss’ boss’ level and higher,” said Martin. “When you do that, you have a better understanding of why you are doing something. You should look at improving how you do your business every day, no matter where you are or what level you’re at. You can’t solve the Air Force problem at the highest level, but you can solve parts of it.” Innovation in technology is key to Defense Secretary Ash Carter’s Third Offset Strategy. Martin said Carter acknowledges that America’s smaller force needs to be much more capable and superior to enemies America is likely to face who have more quantity. The DOD is focusing on modernization and three world theaters - Europe, the Middle East and Far East. “The tools that needed to be re-sharpened or rebuilt need to be focused on those three theaters.” The first offset began in the 1950s and gave America a significant lead in the world by building up its nuclear arsenal as a deterrent. This lasted until the early 70s. Toward the end of the Vietnam War and into the 80s, DOD knew in a conventional war it had to be able to penetrate enemy airspace and deliver weapons more precisely to destroy enemy forces without nuclear weapons. This became the second offset. “So precision and stealth became very important and gave us an advantage that we used very well through Desert Storm,” Martin said. According to Martin, today, DOD is focused on seven operational areas of modernization and improvement: anti-access/aerial denial; guided
(U.S. Air Force photo by Don Allen)
See Innovation, page 2
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By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
August 26, 2016
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412th Test Wing’s top civilian promoted to brigadier general Dr. David Smith, 412th Test Wing Installation Support director, renews his oath of commissioned officers during a ceremony at March Air Reserve Base in Moreno Valley, California, Aug. 6. Smith was officially promoted to the rank of brigadier general Aug. 1. Administering the oath is Army Brig. Gen. Frank Emanuel, California State Military Reserve commander. Smith was recently selected as deputy commander of the CSMR after serving as the commander of the CSMR’s air component. The CSMR is comprised of the California Air and Army National Guards. Its mission is to provide an adequately trained and organized state military reserve force under the exclusive control of the governor. The CSMR is meant to be capable of accomplishing state emergency responsibilities normally assigned to the National Guard when the guard is federalized or otherwise not available to the governor. Typically, those military duties include assisting civil authorities during domestic emergencies and assisting in the mobilization and demobilization process of the National Guard. It is a volunteer operational force upon which the California National Guard depends. Its members are subject to call to state active duty by the governor. At Edwards, Smith oversees several base support offices for the 412th TW as a civil servant. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Tech. Sgt. Gregory Solman)
Keystone Club members prepare for year’s challenges Young adults build unit cohesion, plan year’s events at forest retreat By Paul La Bella 412th Force Support Squadron teen coordinator Teens from the Edwards Air Force Base Keystone Club set out on a mission July 25 through 28 to build unit cohesion, welcome in new members and plan out community service projects and fundraising events for the 2016-17 year. Seventeen young adults traveled to Big Bear, California, to participate in team-building activities such as hiking, kayaking, horseback riding and zip lining. Some of their plans for the upcoming year include assisting the Airman and Family Readiness Center with their Hearts Apart program, supporting the upcoming Palmdale Breast Cancer Awareness Fun Run, college campus visits, games for children during the Boys & Girls Club’s World Wide Day of Play, adopting a family during the holiday season and many other events and activities throughout the year. The Keystone Club is a leadership club that encourages teens to learn how to serve their community, help others and plan out projects that en-
(Courtesy photo)
hance their leadership skills. They focus on four different criteria: community service, career preparation, academic success and teen outreach. The club meets every Wednesday at 3 p.m. at the Teen Center located in Bldg. 7211. For more information on Teen Center activities, call 661-275-TEEN (8336).
From Innovation, page 1
Former commander talks game-changing technologies munitions; undersea warfare; cyber and electronic warfare; human to machine interface and teaming; war-gaming and operational concept development; and supporting its defense innovation unit. He said research shows that there are five game-changing technologies - directed energy, hypersonics, autonomous vehicles, remotely-piloted aircraft and nanotechnology. “Let’s suppose we take those game changers and those seven operational activities, and apply those to problems we face with our threats. You’ll have sensors that will give you full-spectrum knowledge of the battle space. You’ll have materials that are immune to heat decay while offering transmission and reception capability just by virtue of their fiber and makeup instead of special antennas. You’ll have energetics that will provide unimaginable velocity on both manned and unmanned systems. You’d have weapons that can travel the speed of light. In short, you’d have forces that would be nearly invulnerable to the defenses as we know them today. That’s what your bosses are thinking about, and that’s what you need to be thinking about. Here at Edwards Air Force Base, how do you and how can you contribute to that business? Martin also said the Air Force has developed a lot of technology, but as a
result of good ideas, necessity and funding; not necessary by having a culture of innovation. He told the story of a captain who told his major general that he thought they could harness the accuracy and timing of the GPS and apply it to a tail kit on a “dumb bomb” and accurately deliver it. The idea was passed up the chain and funded by Air Force Systems Command. “Good idea. Neat concept. Championed with money and resources and with the authority to use them. So in a very short period of time, they dropped the first [guided bomb], it failed. Dropped five more and [hit] the target. All of a sudden, GPS meant something to the Air Force besides navigation. Precision weapons in all weather; amazing.” Another idea Marin reflected on was when he was AFMC commander and had to write letters to family members of AFMC members who died for whatever reason. Since the majority of AFMC is civilian, he got approval from the chief of staff to allow civilians to participate in the AF three-day per week physical fitness program. Martin wrapped up the talk by asking everyone to maintain an intellectual curiosity to promote ideas and possibly make the Air Force better in the future. Those on Team Edwards who have an idea can submit it through their unit command or email theodore.wuth@us.af.mil or christopher.nagel.1@ us.af.mil.
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From Weapons, page 1
F-35 team releases 30 weapons in 31 days during surge “The amount of coordination and teamwork from the ITF and the outside organizations to enable this is unprecedented,” Tillman said. “The work these team members put in is amazing. It couldn’t have been done without them. During this unprecedented surge period, a total of 30 weapons were dropped or fired, including the Joint Direct Attack Munition, AIM-120 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile, GPS-guided 250-pound Small Diameter Bomb, AIM-9X Sidewinder air-to-air heat-seeking missile and GPS/laser-guided munition. “The WDAs rely on the full capability of the F-35 — multiple sensors, navigation, weapons envelope, mission planning, data links and inter-agency range scheduling — all working in sequence to put steel on target,” said Lt. Gen. Chris Bogdan, F-35 Program Executive Officer. “This was a tremendous effort by the F-35 test team. They surged and worked seven days a week for more than a month to expend 30 ordnance and advanced weapons testing. This testing has moved us that much closer to delivering the full F-35 capability to warfighters within the next two years.” “This is a testament to how the program is maturing with all the weapons we were able to deliver in such a short time.” Trickey said. “This is going to be huge for the warfighter, and us getting this accomplished is going to help get the jet out on the street a little faster and with more capability.” The F-35 is a multi-role, next-generation fighter that combines advanced stealth with speed, agility and a 360-degree view of the bat-
Maj. Douglas Rosenstock fires an AIM-120 missile from an F-35 during a recent weapons test surge here. By the end of the surge, the F-35 Integrated Test Force had released 30 weapons in 31 days, a first in flight test. (Lockheed Martin photo by Darin Russel)
tlespace. The F-35 will form the backbone of air combat superiority for decades to come and replace legacy tactical fighter fleets with dominant air-to-air and air-to-ground capabilities to deter and defeat potential adversaries. The U.S. Marine Corps declared the F-35B combat-ready, or Initial Operating Capability,
in July 2015, the U.S. Air Force declared F-35A IOC on Aug. 2, 2016 and the U.S. Navy intends to attain F-35C IOC in 2018. More than 200 F-35s have flown in excess of 66,000 fleet-wide hours, with over 300 F-35 pilots and 3,000 maintainers trained to operate and support this next-generation aircraft.
AFFT Museum taking in more NASA history with Phantom Eye, LLRV By Kenji Thuloweit 412th Test Wing Public Affairs On June 1, 2012, Boeing’s Phantom Eye prototype autonomous unmanned aircraft system made its first flight at Edwards Air Force Base as part of a NASA Armstrong (formerly Dryden) Flight Research Center project. The slow-flying Phantom Eye had a 150-foot wingspan and was powered by two hydrogen-fueled internal combustion engines driving slow-turning propellers. The aircraft was a prototype for a future long-endurance intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance aircraft that would be capable of remaining in the air at 65,000 feet for a duration of three to 10 days. Today, the demonstrator project has been completed and NASA AFRC has donated the drone to the Air Force Flight Test Museum to be refurbished and displayed in the future. On Aug. 17, a team of workers from the AFFT Museum, Boeing and NASA teamed up to transport the Phantom Eye in separate parts from NASA’s old Space Shuttle hangar to the Flight Test Museum’s restoration hangar. “There was some talk about a year ago between NASA, Boeing and [the AFFT Museum] about donating the Phantom Eye to the museum once they were done with it, and we said we’d absolutely love to have such a unique aircraft,” said Tony Moore, AFFT Museum specialist. The transferring of the Phantom Eye is part of the ongoing partnership between aerospace companies, NASA and the museum to preserve the items and legacy that has made Edwards the center of flight test for the world. The museum will also receive of one of the Lunar Landing Research Vehicles that were flown at Edwards to study and analyze piloting techniques needed to fly and land the Apollo Lunar Module in the moon’s airless environment. The LLRV will be towed to the museum in the near future. The success of LLRVs here led to the building of three Lunar Landing Training Vehicles used by Apollo astronauts at the Manned Spacecraft
The Phantom Eye aircraft was towed in pieces to the Air Force Flight Test Museum’s restoration hangar located at North Base Aug. 17. (U.S. Air Force photo by Christopher Okula)
Center in Houston, the predecessor of NASA’s Johnson Space Center. Apollo 11 astronaut Neil Armstrong, the first human to step onto the moon’s surface, said the mission to the moon would not have been successful without the type of simulation that resulted from the LLRVs and LLTVs. For the Phantom Eye, the goal is to display it, along with all the other historic Edwards aircraft and artifacts, at the future Air Force Flight Test Museum that will be located outside the West Gate and be accessible to the public. Donations are ongoing to fund the project. Learn more about the Air Force Flight Test Museum and Edwards history at http://afftcmuseum.org/.
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This Week in Edwards Flight Test History On Aug. 26, 1975 the McDonnell Douglas YC-15 flew from Long Beach to Edwards on its first flight. The high-wing, four-engine aircraft utilized an innovative externally blown flap, propulsive-lift concept. It was the McDonnell Douglas entry into the Air Force’s Advanced Medium STOL Transport program to develop an aircraft capable of carrying troops and equipment into short, unimproved airfields in combat areas. Today this aircraft is on static display in the Century Circle outside the West Gate entry point. (Edwards History Office file photo)
A slice and a seven-ten split
By Christopher Ball 412th Test Wing Public Affairs
Edwards active duty Airmen enjoy food and entertainment at BeX and its Underground Bowling Lounge in Lancaster, California, Aug. 18. Approximately 80 Airmen and some family members took part in the military appreciation night sponsored by the BLVD Association, a group of business and property owners in downtown Lancaster. The Airmen were treated to free food and bowling at the lounge, as well as given the opportunity to explore the farmers’ market and enjoy live music on BeX’s outdoor stage. “I have been associated with military communities for 22 years,” said Chief Master Sgt. Todd Simmons, 412th Test Wing command chief. “In nine assignments spanning four continents, I have never seen a community more engaged than our friends in the Antelope Valley. It is truly amazing to see the unwavering support for our military community.” (U.S. Air Force photos by Christopher Ball.)
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Commander, 412th TW ................. Brig. Gen Carl Schaefer Installation Support Director ..................... Dr. David Smith Command Chief .............. Chief Master Sgt. Todd Simmons Director, 412th TW, Public Affairs ................... Ed Buclatin Editors ........................... Kenji Thuloweit, Christopher Ball Contributors ........................... Gary Hatch, Dawn Waldman To submit articles or upcoming events send an email to newsroom@edwards.af.mil
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