SOME TEST TASKS MAY SHIFT FROM EDWARDS BASE OFFICIALS DENY 600 JOBS WILL BE LOST.

Byline: Jim Skeen Staff Writer

EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE - The Air Force is studying the possibility of shifting some F-15 and F-16 test work from Edwards Air Force Base to Florida, but base officials said Wednesday there is no truth to rumors that all F-15 and F-16 testing, along with up to 600 jobs, will be lost.

The Air Force is looking at shifting Edwards software, electronic warfare and weapons testing work on the F-15s and F-16s to Eglin Air Force Base, the Air Force's primary weapons testing ground.

The move would consolidate work that is now spread out at Edwards, Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada and Eglin and streamline the process of moving new equipment from developmental testing to operational testing.

It is too early in the process of evaluating the proposal to state how many Edwards jobs could be affected, base officials said.

``We are currently studying the possibility of moving testing of F-15 and F-16 flight software programs - a small portion of the total F-15 and F-16 done at Edwards - to the Air Combat Command testers at Eglin,'' said Col. Perry Lamy, 412th test wing commander. ``But this is, so far, only a study. There is much more work to do before any final decision is made, and if workload is actually moved, it will involve only a small number of aircraft and manpower positions. There will continue to be F-15s and F-16s at Edwards for many years to come.''

In a news release aimed at addressing rumors on the base, the Air Force said the proposal was being considered to address problems with the quality and timeliness of software delivered to combat units.

``The last F-16 software program sent to the field was rejected due to deficiencies - resulting from the fractured process that develops the software in Texas, tests it at Edwards and then evaluates it at Eglin,'' said Lamy. ``So we're studying a better process, and right now, it looks like the best answer is to concentrate the work at one base.''

Under the proposal, airframe and engine testing would still be conducted at Edwards.

In addition to consolidating the software and electronic warfare work, the move would free up Edwards' facilities and workers for higher priority programs, such as the F-22 fighter and Joint Strike Fighter programs.

``There is plenty of exciting new work on the horizon, the type of pioneering, exploratory work that Edwards does best,'' said Maj. Gen. Dick Reynolds, Edwards' commander, said in the base statement. ``If I have to choose, I'd much rather be testing brand-new state-of-the-art aircraft, than aircraft that have been in the inventory for 25 years - aircraft like the F-15 and F-16.''

In a copy of the proposal briefing, proponents of the Eglin move state there are limited resources in the western United States for the testing of the two fighters. Eglin has seen only about a third of its test range capability used in the last six months, the briefing says.

The briefing states the move would need the approval of both Edwards and Eglin officials and would likely require congressional notification.

This is not the first time reports of work shifting from Edwards to Eglin haves surfaced. In 1997, the Air Force acknowledged there were talks about consolidating flight test work in Florida. No action ever came out of those discussions.