Test and Evaluation in the United States Navy, and How It Must Evolve to Support Future Systems Acquisition

Modern Test and Evaluation has long supported acquisition of warfighting systems in the United States Navy. As the complexity and long-term supportability of these systems has dramatically increased, the need to successfully, and incrementally test and evaluate families of systems, including their interfaces, has become even more critical. Long established techniques and methodologies for T&E may still apply, but new factors must be addressed. As the Navy continues to grapple with acquisition reform, and also looks to transform itself in the future, the Warfighters' needs have essentially remained the same - delivery of the best, most effective weapons, delivered as soon as possible, and made easy to operate and maintain. Without an equally effective developmental and operational test and evaluation process, the United States Navy cannot satisfy this need. This thesis examines T&E today and where it must go in the future. It provides recommendations for T&E enhancements, and explores several areas where the Navy, and in many cases, Joint Services, are already looking towards future, integrated and collaborative test and evaluation.
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