Air Force study
A report delivered to Congress on Wednesday that analyzes consolidating Air Force weapons research and testing sends mixed messages about keeping 46th Test Wing flight testing at Eglin Air Force Base.
However, the RAND Corp.’s study recommends that infrastructure such as the McKinley Climatic Laboratory and the Guided Weapons Evaluation Facility run by the test wing stay open, according to lawmakers and a portion of the document obtained by the Northwest Florida Daily News, a sister publication of The News Herald.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, R-1st District, said that according to RAND, the cost savings of consolidating and transferring test wing personnel and aircraft to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., would be “significantly less” than anticipated by the Materiel Command when it proposed the move last year.
The Office of the Secretary of the Air Force responded to the study’s release in a statement that said “the Air Force will continue to study the issue and work with Congress to find the right way ahead for Air Force test.” The Air Force says it must slash costs to free up money for warplanes and to pay for wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.