PRSRT STD US POSTAGE PAID TULLAHOMA TN Vol. 68, No. 8 Arnold AFB, Tenn. PERMIT NO. 29 April 19, 2021 AEDC critical to fielding DARPA OpFires By Bradley Hicks hypersonic boost glide weap- methodology to collect the AEDC Public Affairs ons to penetrate modern en- required data. All objectives emy air defenses and rapidly were met,” said Lt. Col. John Critical testing for a De- and precisely engage critical McShane, director of the fense Advanced Research time-sensitive targets. AEDC Flight Systems Com- Projects Agency program was The objective of the test- bined Test Force. “The data recently completed in Arnold ing in VKF was to determine collected at AEDC is essential Engineering Development the stability and control char- to the rapid development of Complex test facilities. acteristics for the OpFires hypersonic weapon systems This testing supported the weapon system across the and providing DOD leader- DARPA Operational Fires, or hypersonic envelope. Aero- ship decision-quality infor- OpFires, program, and was dynamic data on multiple mation prior to flight test and completed in October 2020 in configurations of the test ar- fielding.” the von Kármán Gas Dynam- ticle were evaluated across a The 2018 National De- Testing for the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency ics Facility (VKF) at AEDC. range of Mach and Reynolds fense Strategy requires that Operational Fires program was recently completed in the Ar- The goal of the OpFires Numbers at various incidence the DOD provide combat- nold Engineering Development Complex von Kármán Gas Dy- program is to develop and angles. credible military forces to namics Facility, or VKF, at Arnold Air Force Base. Shown is a demonstrate a novel ground- “The test team utilized an schlieren image taken during testing at VKF in support of the launched system enabling efficient and rigorous test See DARPA, page 3 DARPA program. (U.S. Air Force photo) Cadets get a closer look at possible future during visit By Bradley Hicks Branch at Arnold AFB, led AEDC Public Affairs the group as they toured fa- cilities and heard from Ar- With the beginning of nold personnel. He said he their Air Force careers rap- hopes the visit gave the ca- idly approaching, four future dets a greater understanding Airmen visited Arnold Air of what awaits them. Force Base March 18 and 19 “They’ve all got at least to get an up-close look at the three years of ROTC experi- types of work they may soon ence, so they’ve already seen be performing and hear di- the PowerPoint presentations rectly from some who were and heard what colonels ex- once in their shoes to help pect from them as young lieu- them better prepare for the tenants. They’ve had those journey ahead. briefings,” Herbert said. “I The cadets are members really wanted to peel the on- of Air Force ROTC Detach- ion back a little bit and kind ment 290 from the University of show them all the nuts and of Kentucky, and they came bolts of what Air Force junior to complete required Profes- officers do day-in and day- sional Development Train- out and show them some of ing, or PDT. As upper class- the more fun opportunities men, the ROTC cadets were that we have versus emails Ken Ligon, a test operations engineer at Arnold Air Force Base, left, discusses the 4-foot tran- sonic wind tunnel March 19 with cadets Andrew Kauffman, center, and Dillyn Twisdale with Air required to plan, coordinate and PowerPoints.” Force ROTC Detachment 290 from the University of Kentucky. The cadets visited Arnold last and execute this training. After the first-day base month to complete required Professional Development Training. While at Arnold, they toured Capt. Michael Herbert, a tour, the cadets took a closer base facilities and spoke with Arnold personnel to help better prepare them for their own future test manager in the Arnold look at test facilities within Air Force careers. (U.S. Air Force photo by Bradley Hicks) (This image was altered by obscur- Engineering Development ing badges for security purposes.) Complex Aerodynamics Test See CADETS, page 3 Flag retreat ceremony marks end of Extremism Stand Down exercises By Jill Pickett tions associated with extrem- AEDC Public Affairs ist or dissident ideologies,” Austin said in the memo. Members of the Arnold “Service members, DOD Engineering Development civilian employees and all Complex workforce gathered those who support our mis- April 6 to observe a flag re- sion deserve an environment treat ceremony signaling the free of discrimination, hate completion of the Extremism and harassment. It is incum- Stand Down exercises at Ar- bent upon each of us to ensure nold Air Force Base. that actions associated with “In a longstanding mili- these corrosive behaviors are tary tradition, the retreat cer- prevented. Commanders, su- emony honors what we pro- pervisors and all those who tect as military, civilians and hold a leadership position contractors,” said Col. Jeffrey within the Department have Geraghty, AEDC commander, a special responsibility to in an invitation to the work- guard against these behaviors force to attend. and set the example for those On Feb. 5, Secretary of they lead.” Defense Lloyd J. Austin III During the ceremony at issued a memo directing all Arnold AFB, Geraghty invit- commanding officers and su- ed military officers, enlisted pervisors at all levels to con- Airmen and DOD civilians duct a one-day stand down Master Sgt. Don Wilson, assists members of the Tennessee Society of the Sons of the Ameri- to reaffirm their respective to address extremism in the can Revolution, from left, Doug Dickerson, Jerry Hjellum and Cliff Kent, fold the flag during oaths of office. ranks, to be completed within a flag retreat ceremony held to mark the end of Extremism Stand Down exercises April 6 at “Our constitution tri- 60 days. Arnold Air Force Base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Jill Pickett) umphs because we the peo- According to the memo, the of impermissible behaviors DOD Instruction 1325.06, “We will not tolerate ac- ple abide by the outcomes exercises were to focus on the and procedures for reporting “Handling Dissident and Pro- tions that go against the fun- importance of the oath of of- suspected or actual extremist test Activities Among Mem- damental principles of the See CEREMONY, page 4 fice and review a description behaviors in accordance with bers of the Armed Forces.” oath we share, including ac- 53rd Wing brings cruise Air Force unveils new Arnold FES urges missile tests to climatic lab mission statement springtime fire safety …Page 2 …Page 2 …Page 5 2 • April 19, 2021 v Arnold Air Force 53rd Wing brings cruise missile Base tests to climatic lab Col. Jeffrey Geraghty Commander Jason Austin Chief, Public Affairs Richard Tighe General Manager, National Aerospace Solutions High Mach Staff: Kathy Jacobsen, NAS Executive Editor Jill Pickett NAS Editor High Mach is published by Lakeway Publishers, Inc. a pri- vate firm in no way connected with the U.S. Air Force, Arnold Air Force Base, Arnold Engi- neering Development Complex (AEDC) or National Aerospace Solutions (NAS), under exclu- sive written contract with NAS at Arnold AFB, Tenn., 37389. Everything advertised in An Air Launched Cruise Missile sits on a test stand in the McKinley Climatic Lab, Eglin AFB, Fla. The 49th Test and Evaluation Squad- this publication will be made ron conducted four functional ground tests of the ALCM during the month of March. (U.S. Air Force photo by 1st Lt Savanah Bray) available for purchase, use or patronage without regard By 1st Lt. Savanah Bray or NucWSEP. The wing’s climate-controlled chamber system’s reliability, suitability and to race, color, religion, sex, 53rd Wing Public Affairs geographically separated unit, with temperatures ranging from supportability normally ac- national origin, age, marital sta- the 49th Test and Evaluation -55 degrees to 120 degrees to complished via flight testing. tus, physical handicap, political affiliation or any other non- EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Squadron, executes the annual imulate free flight. It also increases confidence in merit factor of the purchaser, Fla. – The 53rd Wing brought program and its personnel were Throughout the four-hour a weapon system that is one of user or patron. its test and evaluation mission on hand for the testing here. test, the ALCM sends data to the backbones of global deter- The High Mach office is here to the Arnold Engineering “In addition to operational 49th TES technicians. Squadron rence. located at 100 Kindel Drive, Suite A236, Arnold AFB, Tenn. Development Complex McKin- test, modernizing the B-52 fleet, members operate the test “It’s because of the men and 37389-1236. Editorial content ley Climatic Lab in March to NucWSEP and these functional station that emulates the B-52 women of the 49th TES and our is edited and prepared by NAS. test an air-launched cruise mis- ground tests are key components during the missile launch se- Eglin partners that enable us to Deadline for copy is Wednes- sile. of our mission,” said Lt. Col. quence and monitor missile per- put these weapons to the test, day at close of business one Matthew Guasco, 49th TES com- formance. ensuring they stay effective week before publication. The ground testing was This commercial enterprise part of Air Force Global Strike mander. This type of testing pro- throughout their lifespan and newspaper is an allowable Command’s Nuclear Weapons During the tests, the ALCM vides engineering data to aug- beyond, directly supporting the NAS contractor publication System Evaluation Program is flown on a test stand in a ment the assessment of weapon NDS,” said Guasco.