China Lake, CA
Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD)
Point Mugu and China Lake, California, are the primary locations of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD). China Lake, in California’s Mojave Desert, has unique geography and unencroached airspace and more than 1.1 million acres of Land Ranges that provide unmatched conditions for developing and testing weapon systems and exploring tactics for desert and mountain environments.
Established in 1943, China Lake develops and supports new and existing weapons systems through its collocated laboratories, Land Ranges, test squadrons, and world-class science, engineering and acquisition personnel. The site also supports training and tactics development and offers year-round, operational and logistics support to the fleet.
For 75 years, China Lake has been a leader in research, development, test, and evaluation of guided missiles, advanced weapons and weapons systems.