National Missile Defense (NMD) Integrated Ground Test (IGT) Value

Test and Evaluation TE of the National Missile Defense NMD system is an expensive and complex undertaking. A challenge facing the NMD TE community is allocation of scarce test resources to achieve necessary system testing within available funding. This allocation is done on the basis of perceived value across a number of test methodologies of which Integrated Ground Tests IGTs are one. This paper is based on identified value and lessons learned during recent NMD integrated ground testing. The primnary objective of this paper is to identify and explore the value of IGTs by showing how they meet NMD TE challenges. These challenges are associated with cost, fidelity and completeness of system representation, and utility. The IGT detailed design and implementation process is discussed in relation to interactions with the NMD TE community and the integrated system test tool developer. A description of the process is provided. Recent lessons learned are presented with insight into how to apply them to increase the value of future IGTs. Unique IGT value is identified. It is also shown that IGT value is synergistic the value of other test methods and processes.