testing. Then we gure out how to
employ the new software or gadget in
terms of putting bombs on target, or
survivability against threats, etc. We
develop those tactics that are sent out
to the operational squadrons.’Real-world test pilots
As opposed to test pilots at California’s
Edwards AFB, for example, operational
test crews with the 337th TES receive
very little specialist training on how
to assess new equipment. Hernandez
says this is intentional and helps them
do their job well. ‘There isn’t a detailed
process for guys coming into the
squadron, because we want to replicate
an operational environment. We don’t
try to take the guy from the operational
squadron and turn him into a tester.
We’ve lost that real-world representative
if we do that.’
Personnel from the 337th attend
countless seminars and meetings as new
software or capabilities are planned,
so they can be the voices of those on
the front line. ‘One of the things we do,
that I feel is one of the most importantpieces of our mission next to ying, is
the meetings with the contractors and
systems program o cers when they
are developing what the new software
or capability is going to look like. We
try to get to these meetings early in the
process, to have an operational in uence
before the planning and design process
develops too far, to make sure that what’s
being developed will actually be useful.’
New ideas for software or hardware
upgrades often come from those serving
in front-line units and in uence the list of
things crews would like to see come to
reality. The suggestions are presented to
test engineers, who decide whether they
are feasible.
Following a rough design, the
initiatives are presented to the 337th
TES, as well as the developmental test
program at Edwards AFB, to receive
feedback. Often this process is repeated
numerous times before a design is
settled on and returned to the unit
for testing. Other times, the ideas are
mandated by Air Combat Command and
the unit is told to evaluate them before
installation into the B-1.A wide range of airspace is required
for the test missions, and it ‘depends
on the item we’re testing,’ says Maj
‘Mog’ Tull, 337th TES assistant director
of operations. ‘When we’re testing our
defensive avionics system, for example,
we’ll go to a range that has the resources
we need with the level of delity that
the engineers require. Nellis [in southern
Nevada] is a fantastic range we try to
use a lot. From our perspective, though,
it can be tough... it’s hard for us to get to
because a lot of guys want to use it. We
get a fair amount of priority, so we can
usually make it happen.
‘We go out to Edwards a lot, especially
when we’re doing low-altitude or
terrain-following missions. They have
great routes that have been planned
in exquisite detail so we can y
choreographed routes to get great
data. We also try to jump into as many
exercises as we can, whether air force or
navy. That helps us develop TTPs, since
we get the training of how to work with
other platforms or even other branches
of the military, and how to integrate
with them.’The 337th Test
and Evaluation
Squadron sits
alongside the
77th Weapons
Squadron at
Dyess, creating
a center of
excellence for
the B-1.http://www.combataircraft.net // June 2018 31
30-35 B1 Weapons Test C.indd 31 19/04/2018 15:42