B61 Joint Test Assembly (JTA) Weapons Systems Evaluation Program (WSEP) Eglin Air Force Base, FL Final Environmental Assessment.

摘要

Air Combat Command has requested the use of Eglin Air Force Base (AFB) (Figure 1-1) as an alternative to the Department of Energy s (DOE) Tonopah Test Range (TTR) for conducting B61 Joint Test Assembly (JTA) Weapons Systems Evaluation Program (WSEP) flight tests. These flights are part of the DOE and Department of Defense (DoD) surveillance testing of the enduring stockpile and not a test of new weapons or weapon components. The purpose of the B61 flight test program is to test the B61 JTA in normal stockpile-to-target sequence (STS). Environmental conditions at Eglin will allow for testing at higher humidity levels and lower target altitudes. The goal for the test is high-speed, low- and high-altitude release on Test Area (TA) B-70. The desired target will be a 90,000-ft2 (300x300) concrete pad constructed on TA B-70. Additional testing would include a shallow-water drop in the Gulf of Mexico (W-151 in less than 50 foot depth). WSEP flight tests would include B-52, B-2, F-15E, or F-16C aircraft dropping B61 JTAs, with each test employing a drop/watch/retrieve sequence. The JTAs would be immediately removed after each test. A B61 test event would occur approximately every two years beginning in 2004. A test event would include the release of one to two JTAs at the selected test area.