Combined test center uses off-the-shelf technology to put bombs on target.

The Air National Guard Air Force Reserve Test Center works to save taxpayers' hard-earned money while putting better weapon systems in the air to protect them.

Located in Tucson, Ariz., the test center strives to improve existing weapons systems used by the Guard and Air Force Reserve Command with lowcost, "off-the-shelf" technology.

"We're always taking advantage of leading-edge technologies that are off the shelf," said Col. Thomas Donaldson, test center vice commander. "Because of that, our forces now in the Guard and Reserve have capabilities that in fact are unique and not even fielded in active-duty jets."

Originally known as the Fighter Weapons Office, the test center is a joint-component effort combining elements of the Guard, Reserve and active-duty Air Force. Formed in 1981 to find innovative improvements to older equipment, the test center is the leader in the testing and fielding of fighter-compatible night-vision goggles and lighting.

"Our charter specifically is to ensure that our aviators out there have the most capable weapons systems they can possibly have to do the mission," Colonel Donaldson said.

The test center has made several key improvements to weapons systems, including mounting Litening II pods on the B-52 Stratofortress and A-10 Thunderbolt II, giving these aircraft the ability to deploy their weapons with lethal precision.

Litening II pods use laser designators that allow for the precise targeting and delivery of laser-guided munitions. The pods also have laser rangefinders.

The first Litening II pods were put into action in February 2000. The 301st Fighter Wing from Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base Fort Worth, Texas, and other Air Force Reserve Command F-16 units used the pods to destroy Iraqi threats on the groined in the no-fly zones prior to Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 303rd Fighter Squadron, located at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., was one AFRC unit whose A-10s put those same capabilities to use during OIF.

"Although we flew many missions during the initial phase of OIF, we employed several different types of conventional weapons, using the Litening II targeting pod for target identification and battle-damage assessment," said Lt. Col. John Marks, chief of weapons and tactics for the 303rd FS.

The Test Center is currently testing a Situational Awareness Data Link, which integrates Air Force aircraft with Army and Marine ground troops by using an Enhanced Position Location and Reporting System data-link network. The SADL allows pilots to share information such as friendly ground positions and air traffic with each other while keeping track of enemy forces.

(Lieutenant Fage is assigned to the Headquarters AFRC Office of Public Affairs at Robins AFB, Ga.)