The U.S. Army celebrated a ribbon cutting for a new research and development aircraft hangar at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., Feb. 10.
The U.S. Army”s Communications-Electronics Research, Development and Engineering Center, or CERDEC, moved its Flight Activity or CFA, from a 74-year-old WWII hangar into a modern facility.
This multimillion dollar facility is an Army strategic investment that will significantly enhance CERDEC”s ability to continue key cross-domain aviation research and experimentation in areas that are so essential to the nation”s defense: intelligence, cyber, electronic warfare, communications and mission command.
Managed by the CERDEC Intelligence and Information Warfare Directorate, or I2WD, the CFA provides a unique aviation platform sensor development and integration capability to government agencies, academic institutions or industry partners with valid Department of Defense missions.
This includes end-to-end aviation support for emerging airborne electronics systems, quick-reaction capabilities to units, post-production aircraft modifications and support to programs of record.
The new hangar, which can accommodate C-130-sized aircraft, houses the CFA”s fleet of fixed and rotor wing aircraft, including UH-60M Black Hawks, RC-12s and UV-18 Twin Otter.
With more than 100,000 square feet, it features fully climate-controlled high and low-bay aircraft hangars and includes an aircraft-component and avionics maintenance shop, administrative facilities, a fixed wing taxiway and a rotor wing landing pad.
The increased capabilities will enable Army staff of engineers, integrators, fabricators and pilots to support all aspects of airborne experimentation under one roof: concept, engineering, design, fabrication, integration, flight testing and analysis.
This new facility has ensured the Army will continue to create opportunities that enhance the operational readiness of our military and Warfighter.