EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif -- The National Aeronautics and Space Administration’s Flight Research Center conducted the first flight of a 3/8-scale model F-15. The remotely controlled model was launched from a helicopter and was used to study high angles of attack and other extreme flight maneuvers without jeopardizing a pilot. These flights ran concurrently with the Center’s own F-15 Developmental Test and Evaluation program.
Developmental Test & Evaluation (DT&E) is conducted throughout the acquisition process to assist in engineering design and development and to verify that technical performance specifications have been met. DT&E is planned and monitored by the developing agency and is normally conducted by the contractor. It includes the T&E of components, subsystems, Preplanned Product Improvement (P3I) changes, hardware/software integration, and production qualification testing. It encompasses the use of models, simulations, test beds, and prototypes or full-scale engineering development models of the system.
Test & Evaluation (T&E) is the process by which a system or components are compared against requirements and specifications through testing. The results are evaluated to assess progress of design, performance, supportability, etc. Developmental test and evaluation (DT&E) is an engineering tool used to reduce risk throughout the acquisition cycle. Operational test and evaluation (OT&E) is the actual or simulated employment, by typical users, of a system under realistic operational conditions