Final commander’s call: Edwards delivers decisive options for the warfighter

  • Published
  • By Mary Kozaitis
  • 412th Test Wing Public Affairs Office
EDWARDS AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. --  


Edwards Air Force Base remains a crucial national asset, providing government decision-makers with the critical flight test data and insights needed to equip and support our warfighters, according to Brig. Gen. Doug Wickert, 412th Test Wing commander.

He said in the Edwards base theater during his final Commander’s Call in his current role, the base’s unique capabilities are indispensable for ensuring air superiority and mission success in a world facing increasingly complex and diverse threats.

Wickert cited examples of technological developments at Edwards, including the first flight of the B-2 bomber, the delivery of the KC-46 tanker, modifications of the B-52 Stratofortress bomb bay and electronic warfare testing on the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator.

He noted that the GBU-57, a powerful bunker-buster bomb, began as an Air Force Research Laboratory experiment during the Global War on Terror and has been in development for about 20 years.

"That’s what we do every single day," Wickert said. "We develop this technology to deliver the capability to the warfighter, so that decision-makers have options."

He said the future of the Air Force is being tested at Edwards, a tradition that spans more than 80 years.

Wickert reminds us of the threat we face today and how Edwards fits into the current strategic environment. He recalled how the base developed stealth, precision navigation, communications, and weapons technologies to counter past threats.

“Our role is designing the flight test of the 21st century,” Wickert said. “We are where things come when things need to be tested and developed, so that they are matured and ready to hand-off to the warfighter, including projects like the YFQ-42A ‘Gambit’, YFQ-44A ‘Fury’, F-47 and B-21 Raider.”

“The best way to prevent a war is to have the capability to deter aggression in the first place,” he said. “War is not inevitable and that’s why what we are doing here at Edwards is so important because we our developing that capability.”

Edwards AFB’s legacy as the home of flight test innovation is unmatched. Its expansive, instrumented ranges, world-class workforce, and cutting-edge facilities make it the premier location for evaluating the performance, safety, and suitability of aircraft and related systems. The rigorous, scientific process of flight test at Edwards AFB informs key decisions throughout the acquisition lifecycle, ensuring our warfighters have the tools they need to prevail in any environment.