Planning for the KC -X Integrated Test

The KC-X program is replacing the aging KC-135 air refueling tanker aircraft fleet. For the past few years, the acquisition strategy called for a commercial derivative aircraft as the basic airframe. Using a commercial derivative aircraft in a military application challenges test and evaluation organizations. Myriad commercial data constraints coupled with multiple civil and military test requirements complicates efficient and effective planning. Developing a test concept for the KC-X requires interaction between contractors, acquisition officials, system users, USAF test agencies, and the Federal Aviation Administration. The Integrated Test emphasis within the Department of Defense (DoD) arrived at the correct time to make a positive impact on the KC-X test program. All stakeholders in the program have a vested interest in making the test and evaluation program as efficient as possible and senior DoD leadership is interested in ensuring the success of the integrated test concept. The paper reviews the DoD integrated test concept, identifies characteristics of operational test events required by public law and policy, and discusses integrated test methods, which comply with public law and DoD policy. Implementation challenges are also discussed to include KC-X test community methods addressing integrated testing challenges, tracking of test events, and identifying integrated test opportunities.