Radar-Cross-Section Measurement Ranges, Junction Ranch (JR) RCS Range, China Lake, circa 2012. Official U.S. Navy photo.

YF-4J Phantom II BuNo 151473 and left to right Jon English, Nick Kuzmik, and Kristen Nelson at Armitage Field prior to the Phantoms move to a display area outside of the main gate, China Lake, 20 January 2012. Photo by Jimmy Price.

YF-4J Phantom II BuNo 151473 at Armitage Field prior to its move to an area outside of the main gate, China Lake, 20 January 2012. Photo by Jimmy Price.

YF-4J Phantom II BuNo 151473 being towed through Sandquist gate by tractor driver AM1 Heather with a CLPD escort on its way to a display area outside of the main gate, China Lake, 20 January 2012. Photo by Jimmy Price.

YF-4J Phantom II BuNo 151473 on display in NWC China Lake markings by the Main Gate, China Lake, 20 January 2012. Photo by Jimmy Price.

YF-4J Phantom II BuNo 151473 on display in NWC China Lake markings by the Main Gate, China Lake, 21 January 2012. Photo by Larry McCarley.

Rescue 464, MH-60S Knighthawk BuNo 165763 from VX-31 Dust Devils Search and Rescue (SAR) unit, hoists a survivor from a hillside during a recent training mission near China Lake, 02 February 2012. U.S. Navy photo.

Engineers and technicians check the ADS-B equipment on NASA Dryden's Ikhana (Predator B) unmanned aircraft. It was the first time an UAS as large as the Ikhana MQ-9 has flown equipped with ADS-B, allowing it to relay detailed position, velocity, and altitude. The three-hour flight was conducted in restricted air space over Dryden’s Western Aeronautical Test Range, which is part of Edwards Air Force Base and the China Lake Naval Air Warfare Center, 08 February 2012. NASA photo.

Cdr. Ian Anderson (standing), VX-31 Vampires' executive officer is flanked by RAdm. Mat Winter, NAWCWD commander, Capt. Tim Prendergast, Col. Andre Mercier, VX-31 CO, and Lt. Derek Horne, NAWS chaplain, at Anderson's retirement ceremony held at Hangar 3, 10 February 2012. U.S. Navy photo.

VX-31 Dust Devils XO Cdr. Ian Anderson stands with Capt. Bill “Farkle” Freckleton, one of Anderson’s former RIO instructors. Freckleton and his pilot shot down a MiG-17 during the Vietnam conflict, 06 March 1972, while on his first carrier deployment as an F-4 Phantom RIO. China Lake, 10 February 2012. Official U.S. Navy photo.

China Lake’s F/A-18 Tactical Operational Flight Trainer (TOFT) is identical to those located at NAS Lemoore and Oceana except for its lack of an aft SimuSphere. Each TOFT features individual front and aft cockpits, both equipped with its own SimuSphere — a nine-panel visual-display dome to complement an out-the-windows (OTW) environment, China Lake, 29 February 2012. U.S. Navy photo.

The recently installed Tactical Operational Flight Trainer (TOFT) located in Laboratory 1 of the Michelson Laboratory annex (Building 6), simulator will save millions of dollars that would have been spent in fuel and transportation costs by shuttling pilots back-and-forth between China Lake and NAS Lemoore, which was once the closest available TOFT location. China Lake, 29 February 2012. NAVAIR photo.

EODC Geoff Hurley, of Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) Mobile Unit Three, explains how improvised explosive device disruption tools are used by EOD units to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick West at the B Mountain Range Facility during a visit to China Lake on March 8, 2012. EODCS Scott Williams looks on. U.S. Navy photo by Mike Johnson.

U.S. Navy Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy Rick D. West addresses Sailors during an all-hands call at Armitage Airfield in NAWS China Lake, CA, March 8, 2012. West discussed topics such as the importance of the stations mission as well as the contributions every Sailor makes on the air support they provide for deployed troops. U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Thomas L. Rosprim.

Dr. Mike Wright, senior scientist at NAWCWD, describes the process of turning plant biomass into bio jet fuel to Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy (MCPON)(SS/SW) Rick West during his visit to China Lake on March 8, 2012. U.S. Navy photo by Mike Johnson.

NASA trial run on a rocket sled test fixture, powered by rockets, to replicate the forces a supersonic spacecraft would experience prior to landing. This test series is led by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, CA, and conducted 1 April 2012 at NAWS China Lake, CA LDSD is one of nine missions managed by NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center's Technology Demonstration Missions Program for NASA’s Office of the Chief Technologist in Washington. NASA photo.

On behalf of RAdm. Mat Winter, NAWCWD commander, Capt. Paul Sohl, left, Naval Test Wing Pacific commander, recognizes members of VX-31 with Air Medals for a recent SAR mission in the Eastern Sierra Nevada Mountains during a ceremony 02 April 2012 at NAWCWD China Lake. Joining Sohl from left are LCdr. Ken Gilbert, Lt. Jeff Hollowell and Lt. Randy Geiger of the Inyo County Sheriff's Office, AWS1 Anthony Michalski, AWS2 Erik Potter, Lt. Neal Barham, and Col. Andre Mercier, VX-31 CO. U.S. Navy photo.

MBDA announces that its GBU-44/E Viper Strike scored “multiple direct hits”, after being launched from the KC-130J’s new “Derringer Door” during developmental testing at China Lake, CA, 16 April 2012. Viper Strike also proved out its new fast attack software load, designed to improve performance against time sensitive targets.

Northrop Grumman GBU-44/B Viper Strike glide bomb, GPS-aided laser-guided variant of the Brilliant Anti-Tank (BAT), circa 2012.

The WGU-59/B Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) II impacts a designated target during an operational test in China Lake, CA. The APKWS II (WGU-59/B) is a semi-active laser guidance section that integrates with current 2.75-inch rocket motors and warheads. It provides precision engagement of soft, lightly armored targets with low collateral damage. 17 April 2012 article.

At 130 feet, this P-8A Poseidon fuselage can’t be missed at the NAWCWD Weapons Survivability Lab, China Lake, 19 April 2012. NAWCWD engineers will use the fuselage to conduct the final phase of the Live Fire Test and Evaluation Program for the P-8A Poseidon to verify the effectiveness of the aircraft’s fire suppression system. Official U.S. Navy photo by Dan Kunkel.

The AARGM is test fired from VX-31 Dust Devils F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 165668, DD-201, at China Lake, CA, in June 2012. U.S. Navy photo.

An Advanced Anti-Radiation Guided Missile (AARGM) impacts its target at China Lake, Calif. during a live fire test in June 2012. U.S. Navy photo.

RAdm. Mat Winter, center observes morning colors in front of the Administration Building on June 15, his last day as NAWCWD commander. He is joined by Capt. Harry Dunbrack, left, NAWCWD vice commander, Capt. Dennis Lazar, NAWS China Lake commanding officer, and members of the workforce. U.S. Navy photo by Mike Johnson.

RAdm. Paul Sohl, right, reports for duty as commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, to VAdm. David Architzel, commander of the Naval Air Systems command, during a ceremony held at China Lake on 20 August 2012. Official U.S. Navy photo.

A VX-31 Dust Devils F/A-18E Super Hornet conducts a test on the all-weather GPS based landing system, Joint Precision Approach and Landing System (JPALS), to validate the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer's (LHD 4) flight control equipment, 29 August 2012. Boxer is underway off the coast of Southern California. Official U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class J. Michael Schwartz.

Navy and Insitu personnel lift the RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Aircraft System(STUAS) onto a launcher in preparation for flight at NAWS China Lake, 10 September 2012. U.S. Navy Photo.

The RQ-21A uses a unique pneumatic launcher and a recovery system known as Skyhook. This system eliminates the need for runways and enables a safe recovery and expeditionary capability for tactical missions on land or sea, NAWS China Lake, CA, 10 September 2012. U.S. Navy Photo.

The RQ-21A Small Tactical Unmanned Air System flies over NAWS China Lake, CA, during its initial developmental test flight 10 September 2012. U.S. Navy Photo.

RAdm. Paul Sohl, left, NAWCWD commander, and Capt. Harry Dunbrack, NAWCWD vice commander, make the name change on YF-4J Phantom II BuNo 151473 positioned at the front gate of NAWS China Lake before Dunbrack ended his Reserve duty and returned to his civilian job in Texas. China Lake, 04 October 2012. U.S. Navy photo.

VX-31 Dust Devils pilots Lt. Collier “Tweak” Crouch, left, and Lt. Cmdr. John “Clocktower” Young were on hand at the recent Miramar Air Show to discuss VX-31’s role as a weapons test squadron with airborne search and rescue capability, and showcase the squadron’s newest fighter jet, F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 165668, DD-201, 12 October 2012. Official U.S. Navy photo.

Lt. Chris Webster, of VX-31’s Search and Rescue crew, mans a booth with the squadron’s newest fighter jet, F/A-18F Super Hornet BuNo 165668, DD-201, NAS Miramar, 12 October 2012. Official U.S. Navy photo.

An F-35A Lightning II test aircraft piloted by Maj. Matthew 'Fuze' Phillips on flight 255 completed the first aerial weapon release of an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) from an F-35 Oct. 19, 2012. The aircraft, known as AF-1, jettisoned the instrumented AIM-120 over the China Lake, CA, test range from an internal weapons bay.

An F-35A Lightning II test aircraft piloted by Maj. Matthew 'Fuze' Phillips on flight 255 completed the first aerial weapon release of an AIM-120 AMRAAM (Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile) from an F-35 Oct. 19, 2012. The aircraft, known as AF-1, jettisoned the instrumented AIM-120 over the China Lake, CA, test range from an internal weapons bay.

The NAWCWD Renewable Energy Office took delivery of this one-of-a-kind trailer-mounted regenerative fuel cell system in September 2012 for testing at China Lake. The system can be towed to remote locations along with an array of solar panels to produce energy using water and sunshine, 01 November 2012. U.S. Navy photo.

NASA's Low-Density Supersonic Decelerator team gathers around the "SIAD-R" -- a Supersonic Inflatable Aerodynamic Decelerator they're developing to assist future planetary exploration missions -- during rocket-sled testing at China Lake, CA, 06 November 2012. NASA/JPL photo.

Lt. Kristin Seewald, the staff judge advocate for NAWCWD and NAWS China Lake, takes a look around the deck of USS Nimitz. She recently spent a week on the ship to help its Sailors take care of legal matters before deploying, 14 November 2012. U.S. Navy photo.

Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division Air Test and Evaluation Squadron (VX) 31 search and rescue pilot Lt. Brian “Lumbergh” Culver surpassed 1,000 flight hours in the Sikorsky H-60 helicopter. Culver reached his milestone in the SH-60B, SH-60F, HH-60H, and MH-60S rotary-wing aircraft. Culver displays the coveted Sikorsky 1,000 hour patch that he received in honor of his achievement. Photo by Theresa Goldstrand.