Air Force Test Center

Air Force Test Center
Headquarters, Air Force Test Center, Edwards AFB, California
Active	25 June 1951 - Present
Country	United States
Branch	United States Air Force
Role	Flight Test
Part of	Air Force Materiel Command
Garrison/HQ	Edwards Air Force Base
Motto(s)	Ad Inexplorata "Toward the Unexplored"
Commanders
Current commander	Major General David A. Harris
Insignia
Air Force Test Center emblem

The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) is a development and test organization of the United States Air Force. It conducts research, development, test, and evaluation of aerospace systems from concept to deployment. It has test flown every aircraft in the Air Force's inventory since World War II. The center employs nearly 13,000 people and controls the second largest base in the Air Force.

On 6 July 2012, the previous Air Force Flight Test Center was redesignated the Air Force Test Center. Up until July 2012, the AFTC consists of two subordinate wings. The 95th Air Base Wing provides installation support for all units on Edwards Air Force Base. The 412th Test Wing conducts aircraft testing and evaluation. In July 2012, the redesignated 96th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida; and Arnold Air Force Base's Arnold Engineering Development Complex also came under control of the AFTC.

The Air Force Test Center (AFTC) conducts developmental and follow-on testing and evaluation of manned and unmanned aircraft and related avionics, flight-control, and weapon systems. AFTC also operates the USAF Test Pilot School, which trains test pilots, flight-test engineers, and flight-test navigators.

The Center has tested all the aircraft types in the Air Force inventory, and the center's work force—civilian, military and contractor—work together to flight test and evaluate new aircraft and upgrades to aircraft already in inventory for Air Force units, the Department of Defense, NASA and other government agencies. Upgrades to be tested here include improvements to radar, weapons-delivery and navigation systems, and a system to give tactical pilots the ability to strike ground targets from low altitudes at night and in adverse weather.

The Air Force Test Center develops, operates and maintains the Edwards Flight Test Range and Utah Test and Training Range. It also operates the U.S. Air Force Test Pilot School. The Center provides test infrastructure, overhead support for development, and operational test and evaluation support for aerospace research vehicles. AFFTC resources include the test and evaluation mission simulator, the Benefield Anechoic Chamber, Ridley Mission Control, and the Integration Facility for Avionics Systems Testing.