[Code of Federal Regulations]
[Title 32, Volume 2, Parts 191 to 399]
[Revised as of July 1, 1998]
From the U.S. Government Printing Office via GPO Access
[CITE: 32CFR380.3]

[Page 1026-1027]
 
                       TITLE 32--NATIONAL DEFENSE
 
                               (CONTINUED)
 
PART 380--DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONAL TEST AND EVALUATION--Table of Contents
 
Sec. 380.3  Policy.

    (a) Within the Department of Defense it is recognized that 
operational testing is the continuum of realistic, operational field 
tests conducted by a Military Service independent test agency. 
Operational testing begins during the development period before a final 
decision to proceed beyond low rate initial production. this continuum 
of tests will employ increasing operational realism as engineering 
design nears its final form to provide an independent measure of 
development progress and

[[Page 1027]]

of the ultimate operational effectiveness and suitability of weapon 
systems, equipment, or munitions, or their components. Operational 
testing of production (or production-representative) articles is 
intended to confirm that the items actually tested are effective and 
suitable for combat.
    (b) A follow-on phase or phases of operational testing on production 
systems, equipment, or munitions, or their components are normally 
conducted after the decision is made to proceed beyond low rate initial 
production to assess the operational effectiveness and suitability of 
any changes made in the systems, equipment, or munitions, or their 
components.