NAWCAD is responsible for design, development, evaluation, verification, fielding and in-service engineering support for the Navy's Aircraft Launch and Recovery (ALRE) system and aircraft/target/weapon support equipment.
Air Vehicle Engineering
NAWCAD Scientists and Engineers provide the technical excellence to support the maritime engineering needs related to technology development, system acquisition, and product support of all Naval Aviation Air Vehicle Engineering.
Air Vehicle Engineering consists of the following functional areas: Air Vehicle Engineering, Aeromechanics, Structures, Materials Engineering, Subsystems, and Aerial Vehicle Engineering Science and Technology.
Air Vehicle Modification and Instrumentation
NAWCAD's air vehicle modification and instrumentation division provides the Navy expert capability in design, production, support prototype and instrumentation systems for all naval air vehicles and airborne weapon systems.
Atlantic Test Ranges
The Atlantic Test Ranges are instrumented test ranges providing full-service support for cradle-to-grave test and training for aircraft, aircrew and subsystems. The range features a telemetry center for real-time data transmission from up to nine separate in-flight aircraft to ground engineering personnel. The center manages over 2,700 square miles of restricted airspace including targets and airspace over the mid-Atlantic seaboard.
Avionics
NAWCAD provides in-service support of Naval aircraft avionics systems, equipment and associated operating software.
Human Systems
NAWCAD performs the research, development, test and evaluation that optimizes the human within the total system, including systems across aviation support facilities and equipment on aviation capable ships.
Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test
The Integrated Battlespace Simulation and Test division is the center of excellence and point-of-entry for modeling and simulation of Fleet battlespace environments to support of RDT&E and training of aviation systems. The department operates a number of facilities providing both physical and simulated environments designed to place test articles in a realistic combat environment. From launch to recovery, every simulated phase and aspect of a mission is simulated enabling engineers to capture data necessary to assess the efficiency and capability of the subsystem under evaluation.
Naval Test Wing Atlantic (NTWL) is the most technically diverse air wing in naval aviation. Comprised of four test and evaluation squadrons, NTWL is the fleet advocate supporting test and evaluation of the Navy's principal aviation systems ranging from unmanned to rotary and fixed-wing aircraft and subsystems.
Propulsion and Power
NAWCAD operates propulsion and power facilities that conduct testing of propulsion systems and the components of all naval aircraft systems in addition to systems of other services and research agencies.
Unmanned Aircraft Systems
NAWCAD is the center for full spectrum RDT&E of Fleet UAS platforms from Group 1 through 5 including launch and recovery, control systems, data and communication links, mission sensor packages, airspace integration, weapon integration, interoperability and autonomy.
The United States Naval Test Pilot School trains the world’s finest developmental test pilots, flight officers, engineers, industry and foreign partners in full spectrum test and evaluation of aircraft and aircraft systems.
Warfare Analysis
NAWCAD provides the resources supporting research and analyses aiding leadership in assessment of naval needs and operational requirements. Aviation analysis is conducted in support of early conceptual design and trade studies, requirements generation, acquisition decision making, general naval aviation related analysis and source selection.
