A recent test of the DART system took place earlier this week at Eglin AFB. It was a resounding success, demonstrating both the reliability and versatility of the system in a real-world environment.
During the test, DEWM trained against a variety of aircraft, including F-15Es, F-15EXs, F-16s, and F-35s, utilizing advanced EPAWS and HTS sensors. Fighters from two wings—the 53rd WG, 33rd FW—engaged in scenarios with two geographically separated DARTs, each replicating different signal parameters.
Here are some key highlights:
- Rapid Deployment: We achieved assembly times of under 10 minutes.
- All-Day Operation: The DARTs ran continuously throughout the day, with one session lasting over 2.5 hours.
- Flexible Power Options: We seamlessly switched between shore power and remote/battery power.
- Efficient Logistics: Both devices were moved and operated using only one vehicle.
- Dynamic and Scripted Scenarios: The system supported both, and we successfully made airborne-requested changes to signal and scan parameters in under a minute.
Feedback from the aircrew who engaged with the DART was overwhelmingly positive. Comments included:
- “DART was SUPER helpful for our training today.”
- “Way easier to see and use than other LCTEs.”
- “I’ve never seen that particular threat so clearly in the aircraft before, outside of a sim.”
- “I was pleasantly surprised by the range, detecting signals up to 50 nautical miles.”
This test reaffirms DART’s role in providing realistic and adaptable threat emulation for advanced training environments, particularly in conjunction with cutting-edge platforms like the F-35 and advanced sensor systems like EPAWS and HTS. DEWM is excited about the potential applications of this technology and would love to explore how DART could enhance your operations.