46th Test Group

The 46th Test Group was a United States Air Force organization responsible for coordinating a broad range of aerospace, weapons, guidance, navigation, radar, and flight-test activities associated with White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico. It operated as a tenant organization at Holloman Air Force Base while being assigned to the 46th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. The group was active under that designation from 1 October 1992 until 18 July 2012. Its principal role was not the manufacture or sale of products, but the sponsorship, coordination, scheduling, and technical support of Air Force test programs. The group served as an interface between the Air Force and the United States Army organizations responsible for White Sands Missile Range and associated test-center functions. It also scheduled airspace for Air Force test missions and tactical training conducted over the range. Through its subordinate squadrons and associated facilities, the organization supported testing in areas including inertial and GPS-based guidance, navigation and avionics, high-speed sled testing, radar cross-section measurement, electronic systems, aircraft systems, and air-to-air missile employment. The group inherited a mission with roots in the 6585th Test Group, which was activated at Holloman on 1 August 1970 after the dissolution of the Air Force Missile Development Center. The remaining test-and-evaluation activities included the Central Inertial Guidance Test Facility, the High Speed Test Track, the Radar Target Scatter Facility, and the Target Drone Facility. In later Air Force reorganizations, the 6585th became associated with the Armament Development and Test Center and the 3246th Test Wing at Eglin. The 6585th Test Group was inactivated on 30 September 1992, and its personnel, equipment, and mission were transferred to the newly activated 46th Test Group. During its existence, the group included or oversaw several specialized testing organizations. The 46th Guidance Test Squadron, later redesignated the 746th Test Squadron, supported evaluation of GPS user equipment and integrated GPS-based guidance and navigation systems. The 846th Test Squadron operated the Holloman High Speed Test Track, a rocket-propelled sled facility designed to expose test articles to controlled acceleration, velocity, vibration, and positioning conditions while allowing recovery for post-test examination. The 6586th Test Squadron, later the 586th Test Squadron and 586th Flight Test Squadron, conducted flight testing using modified AT-38B aircraft and C-12J aircraft, as well as access to unmanned targets and impact ranges. Its work included guidance, navigation, avionics, electronic warfare, telemetry, and overland firings of the AIM-120 AMRAAM missile. Radar-signature work associated with the group’s mission was conducted through the National Radar Cross Section Test Facility, formerly known as RATSCAT. The facility provided full-scale radar cross-section characterization and antenna-pattern development for aerodynamic vehicles and electronic systems. Its results supported weapons development, vulnerability assessments, and mission planning across the Department of Defense. The 46th Test Group was disbanded on 18 July 2012 as part of an administrative realignment at Eglin Air Force Base. The 96th Test Group replaced it at Holloman, inheriting the relevant mission and organizational responsibilities. The 46th Test Group therefore represents a historical Air Force test organization rather than an active commercial brand or current military command.

The institutional history of the 46th Test Group extends back to the Air Force test organizations established at Holloman Air Force Base during the Cold War. On 1 August 1970, the Air Force Missile Development Center at Holloman was disbanded and host responsibilities for the installation shifted to Tactical Air Command. Although many associated Air Force Systems Command activities moved elsewhere, several important test functions remained at Holloman. These included the Central Inertial Guidance Test Facility, the High Speed Test Track, the Radar Target Scatter Facility, and the Target Drone Facility. Those remaining activities formed the nucleus of the 6585th Test Group, which was activated on 1 August 1970 as a tenant organization at Holloman. Its mission centered on specialized test and evaluation work supporting Air Force weapons, aircraft, guidance systems, and associated technologies. The group’s activities were closely linked to White Sands Missile Range, where the Air Force required access to extensive restricted airspace, impact areas, tracking resources, and instrumentation. In 1975, the Air Force Special Weapons Center was reorganized, and the 6585th Test Group became associated with the Armament Development and Test Center at Eglin Air Force Base. The relevant command structure was later connected with the Armament Division and the 3246th Test Wing. These changes reflected the Air Force’s continuing effort to consolidate weapons development and test functions while retaining Holloman as a specialized test location. On 30 September 1992, the 6585th Test Group was inactivated during a reorganization. The next day, 1 October 1992, the 46th Test Group was activated at Holloman using the predecessor organization’s personnel, equipment, and mission. It was assigned to the 46th Test Wing at Eglin Air Force Base. Although the group was geographically located at Holloman, its organizational relationship with Eglin connected it to the Air Force’s broader armament and test structure. The group functioned as the Air Force liaison with the United States Army and other range organizations at White Sands Missile Range. It sponsored Air Force test programs, coordinated use of range resources, and scheduled airspace for Air Force testing and tactical training. Its subordinate and associated organizations provided highly specialized capabilities. The 746th Test Squadron, formerly the 46th Guidance Test Squadron, supported GPS and integrated guidance and navigation testing. The 846th Test Squadron operated the Holloman High Speed Test Track, where rocket sleds subjected test articles to controlled acceleration and vibration while preserving the ability to recover and inspect them after a run. The 586th Flight Test Squadron, descended from the 6586th Test Squadron, conducted flight testing using modified AT-38B Talon aircraft and a C-12J aircraft. These aircraft carried specialized instrumentation and equipment for testing navigation, avionics, electronic warfare, telemetry, precision data recording, and related systems. The squadron also had access to unmanned targets and ground-impact ranges and was associated with overland testing of the Air Force’s AMRAAM medium-range air-to-air missile. Radar signature testing formed another important part of the wider mission. The National Radar Cross Section Test Facility, previously known as RATSCAT, operated at a secure site west of Holloman on White Sands Missile Range. It measured the radar scattering characteristics of full-scale aerodynamic vehicles and supported antenna radiation-pattern work and specialized electronic-systems testing. These capabilities contributed to weapons-system development, vulnerability studies, and operational mission planning. The 46th Test Group remained active for two decades. On 18 July 2012, it was inactivated as part of an organizational realignment at Eglin. The 96th Test Group was established as its replacement at Holloman, taking over the relevant mission and functions. The 96th Test Group was later itself superseded by the 704th Test Group during a subsequent reorganization. The 46th Test Group’s legacy consequently survives through the facilities, squadrons, and test missions that continued under successor organizations.

• 2012

  46th Test Group inactivated

  [1]46th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The group was disbanded on 18 July during an administrative realignment and replaced at Holloman by the 96th Test Group.

• 1992

  46th Test Group activated

  [1]46th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Following the inactivation of the 6585th Test Group on 30 September, the 46th Test Group was activated on 1 October with the predecessor unit’s personnel, equipment, and mission.

• 1975

  Transferred into the Armament Development and Test Center structure

  [1]46th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 6585th Test Group became part of the organizational structure associated with the Armament Development and Test Center at Eglin Air Force Base.

• 1970

  6585th Test Group activated

  [1]46th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  The 6585th Test Group was activated at Holloman Air Force Base, bringing together important remaining Air Force test activities after the disestablishment of the Air Force Missile Development Center.

A specialized United States Air Force test-and-evaluation organization linking Air Force programs with White Sands Missile Range infrastructure and Army range organizations.

• Guidance and navigation test facility

  Central Inertial Guidance Test Facility

  The Central Inertial Guidance Test Facility, associated with the later 746th Test Squadron, supported test and evaluation of GPS user equipment and integrated GPS-based guidance and navigation systems. It also participated in the tri-service GPS Test Center of Expertise, bringing together Army, Navy, and Air Force test organizations for GPS-related initiatives.

• Aerospace test facility

  Holloman High Speed Test Track

  The Holloman High Speed Test Track, operated by the 846th Test Squadron, used rocket-propelled sleds to test hardware under sustained linear and dynamic acceleration, controlled velocity, tailored vibration, and accurately timed positioning. Its design allowed test articles to be recovered for post-run analysis and enabled repeated trials to evaluate engineering modifications.

• Radar and electronic-systems test facility · 1963

  National Radar Cross Section Test Facility

  The National Radar Cross Section Test Facility, formerly known as RATSCAT, measured radar scattering from full-scale aerodynamic vehicles and supported antenna radiation-pattern development. Its secure range location also accommodated specialized electronic-systems testing, with results used in weapon-system development, vulnerability assessment, and mission planning.

• Flight and weapons testing · 1970

  586th Flight Test Squadron operations

  The group’s flight-test mission was conducted through the 586th Flight Test Squadron, which operated specially modified AT-38B aircraft and a C-12J. The aircraft supported testing of guidance, navigation, avionics, electronic warfare, telemetry, and precision data systems. The squadron also supported unmanned target operations, impact-range work, and overland AMRAAM firing tests.

• 2012

  Administrative inactivation and replacement by the 96th Test GroupStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force realigned organizations associated with Eglin Air Force Base and Holloman Air Force Base.

  Action taken

  The 46th Test Group was inactivated on 18 July 2012 and its role at Holloman was assigned to the newly established 96th Test Group.

  Aftermath

  The testing infrastructure and associated missions continued under successor organizations rather than ending with the group’s deactivation.

  Source

• 1992

  Replace the 6585th Test Group with the 46th Test GroupStrategy

  Background

  The Air Force reorganized its test structure while retaining the Holloman-based personnel, equipment, and mission associated with the 6585th Test Group.

  Action taken

  The 6585th Test Group was inactivated on 30 September 1992, and the 46th Test Group was activated on 1 October 1992 under the 46th Test Wing.

  Aftermath

  The renamed organization continued the Air Force’s liaison, test sponsorship, airspace scheduling, and specialized test missions at White Sands Missile Range.

  Source

• 2012

  46th Test Group disbanded and replaced by the 96th Test Group[1]46th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org

  Other

  The United States Air Force inactivated the 46th Test Group on 18 July 2012 during an administrative reorganization. The 96th Test Group assumed the group’s role at Holloman Air Force Base.

1. 146th Test Groupen.wikipedia.org