Sites are field organizations providing AIR-4.2 products and services from a specific location. While technically a site itself, Patuxent River, MD, is considered the HQ activity. Sites are organizationally aligned under the AIR-4.2 Deputy Director and are led by a Site Manager. AIR-4.2 sites are structured by Divisions to provide proper organizational alignment and communication channels back through the Department.
The following lists each recognized AIR-4.2 site and its area of expertise:
- China Lake, CA — Weapons and Weapons Systems
- Lakehurst, NJ — Aircraft Platform Interface (API), Aircraft Launch and Recovery Equipment (ALRE), and Support Equipment (CSE & PSE)
- Orlando, FL — Trainers, Training Systems, and Instructional Systems Design and Content
The Cost Department's China Lake site conducts a wide variety of cost and program performance analyses for weapons, targets and related acquisition programs. The team is located at the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWC-WD). With a team of 20 analysts, the China Lake cost group serves as the lead Cost analysts, EVM analysts, and Scheduling analysts for the Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM), the Joint Air-to-Ground Missile (JAGM), the Multi-Stage Supersonic Target (MSST), the Sub-Sonic Aerial Target (SSAT) and numerous smaller weapons related programs. The group also assists internal Weapons Division customers in developing Integrated Master Schedules for command interest programs including SPIKE and MEDUSA.
In addition to routine program cost and performance duties, members of the team are routinely asked to serve on Analysis-of-Alternatives, Source Selection, and Business Case studies.
The Cost Department's Lakehurst site has the unique mission and specialized capability to develop all costs and cost studies relating to the DoD Aircraft Platform Interface (API) mission, & equipment, Aircraft Launch & Recovery (ALRE) mission & equipment, and Peculiar Support Equipment (PSE) for various airframes. In addition, 4.2 Lakehurst has developed specialized databases, models and processes for performing Cost Benefit Analysis, Demil & Disposal analysis and Shipboard Integration of NAVAIR equipment.
The Lakehurst cost group has also successfully integrated itself into various other competencies including the Program Management and Contracts groups, supplying support & studies with specialized cost support.
Lakehurst has supported and continues to support various ACAT programs including the Electronic Magnetic Aircraft Launch System (EMALS), the Advanced Arresting Gear (AAG), and the electronic Consolidated Automatic Support System (eCASS). The Lakehurst cost group has also seen a continuing growth in specialized cost studies for the Joint Services Expeditionary Air Field (EAF) programs.
As Lakehurst moves into a Joint Base facility with Fort Dix and McGuire Air Force Base it continues to be tasked with specialized and challenging cost studies. Additionally, Lakehurst is involved in developing costs for new NAVAIR equipment which continues to be identified for our next generation carriers and ships. As the demand for these future systems increase, the demand for quality, defendable cost analysis from 4.2 Lakehurst continues to grow.
Lakehurst has a staff of roughly 30 analysts.
The Cost Department's Orlando site is responsible for delivering fully-developed, reliable, supportable cost analyses and products that support Naval Training Systems. The team is located at the Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division (NAWC-TSD). NAWC-TSD is as part of a community of Defense (Navy, Army, Marine and Air Force), Government, Industry and Academia working together with a common goal of improving human performance. Product lines include Training Systems (Training devices, simulators), Training Content (Courseware Development, Curriculum), Training Services (O&M Services, Instructor, COTS), Intellectual Services (Research & Development, Front end/Requirement Analysis).
AIR-4.2's Orlando site stood up in 2007 in an effort to provide more rigor, consistency and credibility of the cost function. Today, the site has 12 analysts and continues to grow. The team provides a variety of intermediate products and services that include:
- Independent Government Cost Estimates
- Procurement Price Analysis
- Budget Preparation / Estimates
- Modification Program Estimates
- Source Selection Evaluations
- Earned Value Analysis
- IMS Analysis
- Business Case Analysis
- Cost and Software Data Reports (Form 2794)
The Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, serves as the site of the Naval Air Systems Command Headquarters (NAVAIR HQ) and the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWC-AD). It also serves as the site of the NAVAIR Cost Department headquarters.
