USAF Patch Test Aircraft 412 Test Wing DTE Development Evaluation

USAF Patch 412 Test Wing Development Test and Evaluation DT&E Aircraft And Weapons Edwards AFB 1990s Velcro Embroidered on twill cut edge 76mm by 74mm three inches by two and seven eighth inches.

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412 Test Wing TW was activated on 2 October 1992 at Edwards AFB on the redesignation of 6510 Test Wing assigned to the Air Force Test Centre as part of transfer from Systems Command to Air Force Material Command to carry out Developmental Test and Evaluation DT&E to reduce or eliminate risks before fielding aerospace systems prior to passing them on other organizations for Initial Operational Test and Evaluation IOT&E where the system is evaluated for mission and combat effectiveness. The Wing will plan conduct analyse and reports on all flight and ground testing of aircraft weapons systems software and components as well as modelling and simulation for the USAF.

It is also the host wing for Edwards AFB USAFs second largest base responsible for operating the base including infrastructure communication systems security fire protection transportation supply finance contracting legal services personnel and manpower support housing education chapel and quality of life programs on a 301000 acre base in the middle of the Mojave Desert.

412 Operations Group OG controls the Wings eight flying Squadrons grouped by mission. Global Power Mission is fighters and bombers with 411 Flight Test Squadron responsible for testing the F 22 Raptor fighter 416 Flight Test Squadron dealing with the F 16 Fighting Falcon 419 Flight Test Squadron B 52H B 1 Lancer and B 2 Spirit bombers 445 Flight Test Squadron T 38 Talon 461 Flight Test Squadron F 35 Joint Strike Fighter Lightning II. The Global Reach Mission is Transport with 418 Flight Test Squadron responsible for C 130 and special operations variants CV 22 KC 135 and special variants KC 135 Speckled Trout. The Global Vigilance Mission is for unmanned aircraft with 452 Flight Test Squadron testing RQ 4 Global Hawk.

For each system a Combined Test Force team is established with military personnel and government civilians and support contractors which formulate the test program develop the criteria for flight test missions execute flight test missions analyse data and report on the results. Specialist technical support is provided by expert Groups with 412 Test Engineering Group TENG providing the main engineering expertise components for test and evaluation with 773 Test Squadron 775 Test Squadron 812 Test Squadron 412 Hypersonic Flight Test Team 412 Range Squadron. 412 Electronic Warfare Group EWG provides electronic warfare evaluation expertise with 771 Test Squadron and 772 Test Squadron. 412 Maintenance Group MXG provides aircraft maintenance and maintenance flight tests and 412 Test Management Division 412 TMD provides Project and Resource Management expertise to programs and includes a Special Projects Branch.

412 Test Wing is responsible for USAF Test Pilot School TPS with courses for top pilots navigators and engineers to learn how to conduct flight tests and generate the data needed to carry out test missions.

Other support units within the Wing include the 412 Mission Support 412 Medical Groups  412 Civil Engineer Transportation Directorate 412 Security Forces Squadron and the Services and Comptroller Divisions.

This patch dates from the 1990s.