Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft

Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft
(Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge - Musterprüfwesen für Luftfahrtgerät der Bundeswehr)
or
(Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61 (WTD 61))
Active 1957 - present
Country Federal Republic of Germany
Branch

Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology

and In-Service Support
Role Flight testing, evaluation, type approval
Garrison/HQ Manching Air Base
Eurocopter Tiger
Panavia Tornado and F-4 Phantom
Mil Mi 24
F-104 Starfighter

The Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft (German: Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge - Musterprüfwesen für Luftfahrtgerät der Bundeswehr) or (German: Wehrtechnische Dienststelle 61 (WTD 61)) is one of several testing centres of the German Armed Forces. Its tasks are the testing and evaluating of military aircraft and aerial weapon systems. The centre is also responsible for certifications and inspections of modifications made on aircraft already in service with the German Armed Forces. The Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft is not integrated into the command structure of the military branches of the German Armed Forces but is a branch of Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr (BAAINBw)) which is directly subordinate to the Federal Ministry of Defence. Founded in 1957, the centre is based at Manching Air Base. The unit has a strength of about 650 personnel, 50 of which are members of the armed forces, the rest are civilian.[1]

Tasks

The responsibility of the Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft is to ensure that only safe, effective and efficient weapon systems are introduced into service with the German Armed Forces and to evaluate if the systems tested fulfil the requirements expected. The centre also carries out trials on and evaluations of weapon systems which are not planned to become part of the German Armed Forces inventory. Notably, this happened after the German reunification in 1990, when a large variety of former East German aircraft from the National People's Army became available.[2]

The specific tasks of Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft are defined as:[3]

Structure

The Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft has a number of subdivisions. Each subdivision is assigned a specialist task. Within each subdivision there are further specialised departments.[4]

History

As the earlier Erprobungsstelle Rechlin central military aviation test facility of the defunct Third Reich was well inside East German borders after 1945, following the foundation of the modern German Armed Forces (Bundeswehr) in November 1955, the need for a new institution to test military aircraft became apparent. On 1 October 1997 the Testing Centre for Military Aerial Equipment (Erprobungsstelle für militärisches Luftgerät) was founded, the predecessor of the Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft. The centre was based at Oberpfaffenhofen Airfield. Initially, the tasks of this new centre were to create the structure and procedures for the testing centre. Once this was completed, the centre was operational and began the testing and evaluation procedure of aerial military equipment selected for possible procurement by the German Armed Forces. Parts of the testing centre were relocated to Manching Air Base in 1967. The fact that Manching Air Base was also used by Reconnaissance Wing 51 at that time, restricted the testing of new aircraft. Consequently in 1968, a new airfield was selected, Giebesltadt Airfield, to house the units previously based at Manching Air Base. In 1969, all units of the testing centre were concentrated at Manching Air Base. In 1987, the centre was renamed Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge - Musterprüfwesen für Luftfahrtgerät der Bundeswehr (Wehrtechnische Dienstelle 61 (WTD 61)).[5]

Eurofighter Typhoon, being tested by WTD 61

Current projects

Amongst other projects, the Bundeswehr Technical and Airworthiness Center for Aircraft is currently engaged in testing, evaluating and developing the following systems:[6]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Wagner, Anja (9 January 2012). "Im Einsatz für die Sicherheit" (pdf). Aktuell – Zeitung für die Bundeswehr. Federal Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 14 April 2013.
  2. ↑ B. Vetter & F.Vetter, Deutsche Einsatzhubschrauber, p. 58
  3. ↑ "Aufgaben der WTD 61". Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge - Musterprüfwesen für Luftfahrtgerät der Bundeswehr (WTD 61), Manching (in German). Federal Ministry of Defence. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  4. ↑ "Die organisatorische Struktur der WTD 61". Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge - Musterprüfwesen für Luftfahrtgerät der Bundeswehr (WTD 61), Manching (in German). Federal Ministry of Defence. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 13 April 2013.
  5. ↑ B. Vetter & F.Vetter, Deutsche Einsatzhubschrauber, p. 54ff.
  6. ↑ "Aktuelle Aufträge der WTD 61". Wehrtechnische Dienststelle für Luftfahrzeuge - Musterprüfwesen für Luftfahrtgerät der Bundeswehr (WTD 61), Manching (in German). Federal Ministry of Defence. 23 August 2012. Retrieved 14 April 2013.

Further reading

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Coordinates: 48°42′09″N 11°32′01″E / 48.70250°N 11.53361°E / 48.70250; 11.53361

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