AIM-9X Modeling and Simulation Support for Operational Testing: A Success Story

摘要

For the past three decades, the U.S. Air Force has placed increased emphasis on using modeling and simulation (M&S) in the weapons system acquisition process. While M&S can make valuable contributions to an operational test program, test and M&S results are not combined to draw conclusions on how well the system will perform in an operational environment. The test team can use M&S to better understand test conditions, to help plan the test, and to augment the field test in areas in which testing was not able to be conducted. This article discusses the role M&S played in support of the AIM-9X Operational Test and Evaluation (OT&E) joint program.