Test and Evaluation

Major System/ Platform Variant

Original Planned

Current Planned

Achieved/ Forecast

Variance (Months)

System Integration

MRTT Aircraft

Aug 08

Dec 08

Jun 10

22

Simulation Devices

Feb 09

Dec 09

Dec 10

22

Acceptance

MRTT Aircraft

Dec 08

Oct 10

Oct 10

22

Simulation Devices and Simulation Devices Facility

May 09

Dec 11

Dec 11

31

Full Mission Simulator Final Accreditation

Feb 10

May 12

May 12

27

Variance Explanations

System Integration Test & Evaluation is ongoing for the first-of-type MRTT Aircraft. Originally planned as a single-phase activity, the test program was split into two phases to accommodate changes to the Remote Aerial Refuelling Operator console (as described above). The first phase, for civil certification of the modified aircraft, was successfully completed in February 2008. The second phase, for military certification and qualification of the modified aircraft commenced end of December 2008, approximately six months late due to the combination of delays to the first and second conversion phases. In particular, a further slip of 4 months to the MRTT aircraft acceptance milestone has been as a result of unexpected and continued delays in the development and certification ground and flight testing program.

Acceptance Test & Evaluation of the first MRTT Aircraft will be conducted as part of the Customer Acceptance Process following completion of all system integration testing and aircraft preparation for delivery.

Delays to completion of the MRTT Aircraft test process has a knock-on impact to completion of testing of the Simulation Devices as the data required for its final accreditation is dependent on a targeted flight test phase conducted at the end of the formal test program.