Research on US Military Test and Evaluation as a Continuum

The reform of test and evaluation is a critical component of the US defense acquisition system reform and the digital transformation of the US military. Facing the challenges of test and evaluation brought by the development of emerging technologies such as artificial intelligence and autonomy, as well as the systematic operational requirements like multi-domain warfare and all-domain warfare, to the delivery of weapon equipment capabilities, the US Department of Defense is actively promoting digital transformation in the field of test and evaluation. One of the crucial measures is to put forward the concept of test and evaluation as a continuum, aiming to continuously optimize test strategies and evaluation processes with the help of digital engineering concepts, and further enhance the efficiency and qua-lity of acquiring weapon equipment. This article briefly outlines the development of test and evaluation as a continuum, analyzes its framework content and conceptual implications, discusses the specific capability elements required for implementation, and provides insights into the digital transformation of test and evaluation for weapon equipment.