Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23, commonly designated VX-23, is a United States Navy aviation test and evaluation unit headquartered at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in Maryland. The squadron uses the tail code SD and the radio callsign “Salty Dog.” Its role is not commercial air transport or aircraft manufacturing, but the operational testing, engineering support, safety oversight, and flight evaluation of fixed-wing tactical aircraft, unmanned aircraft, and associated systems. The unit was established on 22 July 1995 as the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron. It adopted the VX-23 designation on 1 May 2002. Since its formation, the squadron has supported flight-test activity involving aircraft such as the EA-6B, F-14, F/A-18, and T-45, as well as developmental and demonstration programs. Its documented work has included participation in testing for the Joint Strike Fighter concept-demonstration aircraft, including the X-32 and X-35, and the X-31 VECTOR research vehicle. VX-23’s responsibilities cover a broad portion of the naval aviation test cycle. These activities include flying-qualities and performance evaluations, shipboard suitability testing, propulsion-system testing, tactical mission-system assessment, ordnance compatibility and ballistics work, reliability and maintainability evaluations, flight-control software development, and validation of flight-fidelity simulations. The squadron can also provide test aircraft, pilots, maintainers, government flight representatives, test monitors, chase-aircraft support, and facilities for contractor demonstrations and development work. The squadron’s aircraft inventory has changed with the needs of naval aviation programs. The aircraft identified in reference material as current or supported platforms include the T-45 Goshawk, F-35B and F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, E/A-18G Growler, and MQ-25 Stingray. These platforms allow the unit to assess carrier aviation, strike-fighter, electronic-attack, trainer, and unmanned aerial-refueling capabilities. VX-23 also operates or maintains specialized test infrastructure, including a TC-7 aircraft-carrier catapult and MK-7 arresting-gear facility. The organization combines Navy and Marine Corps personnel with civilian employees, contractors, maintainers, engineers, planners, and safety specialists. Reference material describes a core military complement of approximately 40 officers and 90 enlisted personnel, supported by roughly 340 contractor and civil-service personnel, with additional flight-test engineering support from Naval Air Systems Command and other organizations. The squadron has been described as conducting more than 2,600 flight operations and approximately 3,500 flight hours annually, although staffing, aircraft assignments, and sortie levels can change over time. A notable recent milestone occurred on 4 June 2021, when an MQ-25 test aircraft conducted an aerial-refueling evaluation with an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet associated with VX-23. The mission involved repeated dry and wet connections and transferred 325 pounds of fuel during a flight lasting approximately four and a half hours. The event demonstrated the squadron’s role in integrating emerging unmanned systems with existing carrier-air-wing aircraft. VX-23 is therefore best understood as a United States government aviation test organization rather than a consumer-facing brand. Its institutional value lies in reducing technical and operational risk before aircraft and systems enter broader fleet service, while producing flight data and evaluations for Navy and joint acquisition programs.

Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23 is a United States Navy aviation test unit based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. The squadron was established on 22 July 1995 under the name Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron. Its creation reflected the Navy’s need for a dedicated organization capable of conducting structured flight testing and operational evaluation for strike aircraft and related systems. On 1 May 2002, the unit was redesignated VX-23. The VX designation identifies a Navy air test squadron, while the unit’s SD tail code and “Salty Dog” radio callsign provide its operational identity. Over time, VX-23 has worked across multiple generations and categories of naval aircraft, including the EA-6B electronic-attack aircraft, F-14 fighter, F/A-18 strike fighter, and T-45 trainer. The squadron has also supported advanced development programs beyond routine fleet aircraft. Among its developmental activities, VX-23 provided flight-test aircrew and hosted work associated with the Joint Strike Fighter concept-demonstration aircraft, including the X-32 and X-35. It also participated in testing of the X-31 VECTOR research vehicle. These programs required specialized evaluation of aircraft handling, flight controls, performance, and other technologies relevant to future tactical aviation. The squadron’s work extends beyond piloting aircraft. VX-23 supplies aircraft, pilots, maintenance personnel, safety oversight, facilities, and test-management support. Its evaluation portfolio includes flying qualities, performance, carrier or shipboard suitability, propulsion, mission systems, ordnance compatibility, ballistics, reliability, maintainability, simulation fidelity, and flight-control software. The squadron can also support government flight representation, test monitoring, chase operations, and contractor demonstrations or validation events. VX-23 operates within a larger Naval Air Systems Command test-and-evaluation structure. Its military personnel are drawn from the United States Navy and United States Marine Corps, while civilian employees, contractors, maintainers, planners, safety personnel, and flight-test engineers provide additional technical capacity. Reference material describes a core complement of approximately 40 officers and 90 enlisted personnel, supplemented by approximately 340 contractor and civil-service personnel and additional engineering support. The unit’s facilities include three large hangars and specialized carrier-deck test equipment, including a TC-7 catapult and MK-7 arresting-gear facility. Its aircraft and test responsibilities have evolved as naval aviation programs have changed. Platforms identified in reference material include the T-45 Goshawk, F-35B and F-35C Lightning II, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, E/A-18G Growler, and MQ-25 Stingray, in addition to aircraft associated with earlier programs. On 4 June 2021, VX-23 was involved in the first reported MQ-25 aerial-refueling test and evaluation flight. The MQ-25 operated from MidAmerica Airport in Mascoutah, Illinois, and refueled an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet. The aircraft completed repeated dry and wet connections, transferring 325 pounds of fuel over a mission lasting about four and a half hours. This test illustrated the squadron’s role in evaluating how new unmanned systems can be integrated with existing carrier aviation operations. The squadron has been described as conducting more than 2,600 flight operations and approximately 3,500 flight hours annually. Such operations include high-risk developmental testing as well as structured evaluation and support work. Because VX-23 is a military test organization, its aircraft assignments, staffing, programs, and annual activity can change according to Navy acquisition priorities and test schedules.

• 2021

  MQ-25 aerial-refueling evaluation

  [1]VX-23en.wikipedia.org

  On 4 June 2021, an MQ-25 unmanned aircraft conducted repeated dry and wet refueling connections with an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet and transferred 325 pounds of fuel.

• 2002

  Redesignated VX-23

  [1]VX-23en.wikipedia.org

  The Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron was redesignated Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 23, or VX-23, on 1 May 2002.

• 1995

  Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron established

  [1]VX-23en.wikipedia.org

  The unit was established on 22 July 1995 to conduct flight testing and evaluation of naval strike and tactical aircraft.

A specialized United States Navy flight-test and evaluation organization supporting the development, integration, validation, and operational assessment of naval tactical aircraft and associated aviation systems.

• Carrier-capable jet trainer

  T-45 Goshawk

  The T-45 Goshawk is a naval jet trainer used in carrier-aviation training and test activity. Within VX-23’s portfolio, the aircraft represents the squadron’s support for evaluating trainer performance, handling qualities, and shipboard suitability.

• Stealth multirole fighter

  F-35B/C Lightning II

  The F-35B and F-35C variants are short-takeoff/vertical-landing and carrier-capable versions of the Joint Strike Fighter family. VX-23 supports flight-test and evaluation work related to naval and Marine Corps tactical aviation capabilities, including performance, systems integration, and operational suitability.

• Carrier-based multirole fighter

  F/A-18E/F Super Hornet

  The F/A-18E/F Super Hornet is a principal carrier-based tactical aircraft used in VX-23 evaluation activity. The platform supports testing of flight characteristics, mission systems, weapons compatibility, propulsion, software, and integration with emerging systems such as the MQ-25.

• Electronic-attack aircraft

  E/A-18G Growler

  The E/A-18G Growler is an electronic-attack derivative of the Super Hornet. Its association with VX-23 reflects the squadron’s broader remit in tactical mission-system evaluation and testing of aircraft-specific electronic and combat capabilities.

• Unmanned aerial-refueling aircraft

  MQ-25 Stingray

  The MQ-25 Stingray is an unmanned aircraft intended to extend the range and endurance of carrier air wings through aerial refueling. VX-23 supported an early operationally relevant test involving refueling contacts with an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet in June 2021.

• 2021

  MQ-25 carrier-air-wing integration testOther

  Background

  The Navy needed to evaluate the ability of an unmanned tanker aircraft to refuel a carrier-based strike fighter in flight.

  Action taken

  VX-23 supported an MQ-25 and F/A-18E/F test mission involving repeated dry and wet refueling connections.

  Aftermath

  The mission transferred 325 pounds of fuel and provided flight-test evidence for the integration of unmanned aerial refueling into carrier aviation operations.

  Source

• 2002

  Adoption of the VX-23 designationStrategy

  Background

  The unit had operated since 1995 as the Naval Strike Aircraft Test Squadron and continued to support naval tactical-aircraft testing as its mission expanded.

  Action taken

  The Navy redesignated the squadron VX-23 on 1 May 2002.

  Aftermath

  The redesignated squadron continued its role as a dedicated flight-test and evaluation organization for fixed-wing naval aircraft and associated systems.

  Source

• 2021

  VX-23 participates in first MQ-25 aerial-refueling test and evaluation flight[1]VX-23en.wikipedia.org

  Product launch · Other

  An MQ-25 unmanned aircraft conducted an aerial-refueling test with an F/A-18E/F Super Hornet associated with VX-23. The aircraft completed multiple dry and wet connections and transferred 325 pounds of fuel during the approximately four-and-a-half-hour mission.

1. 1VX-23en.wikipedia.org