ETPS Course Now Includes Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) Module

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In a first for ETPS, two Evaluator Aircrew Course students undertook an exercise using a Bramor Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) as part of the practical element of the course.

Preparing aircrew for frontline military test and evaluation through practical exercises, the Evaluator Aircrew course covers three weeks and is supported by specialist ground school instruction. The systems test exercise forms a key module and reinforces the theoretical content, whilst introducing the priorities and responsibilities of working effectively within a test team. Students learn how to manage testing in a dynamic airborne environment, assessing the system’s behaviour and performance. This is in addition to briefing and debriefing the Test and Evaluation sorties.

The new addition to the program is the Bramor UAS. A commercially available air vehicle – operated by the QinetiQ Small UAS Facility – it is an extremely capable, fixed-wing surveillance platform and is ideal for ETPS students to gain experience in Test and Evaluation.

Under the guidance of the QinetiQ Remote Pilot and ETPS Flight Test Engineer Instructor, the aircraft was flown on a one hour mission, during which time the capabilities of the on-board sensor package, flight management systems and human-machine interface were evaluated. In their report, the Evaluator Aircrew students found the system to be “an effective platform, offering a stable, low level, airborne sensor capability”.

This activity complements the crewed systems test exercise and increases the relevance of training for the uncrewed evaluation of those individuals conducting exercises within this Test and Evaluation environment. In doing so, the training has met all of the high quality training outputs of the traditional Evaluator Aircrew course.