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Trusted by the U.S. Military and Top Defense Contractors
GVIRL is the undisputed leader in defense testing. Trusted by the U.S. government and top defense contractors, GVIRL offers the most sophisticated MIL-STD testing on the planet. In fact, GVIRL can simulate any real-world condition on earth, providing unmatched expertise in the following areas:
- Ballistic and Warhead Live Fire Testing and Characterization
- Insensitive Munitions and Safety Testing
- Engineering Services Design, FEA, Modeling, and Failure Analysis
- NIJ, MIL-STD, and UL Qualified Body Armor Testing
- All Military Standard Qualification Environmental, Dynamics, and Mechanical Testing
- Complete EMI/EMC Test Capabilities
- State-of-the-Art High Speed Photography, Instrumentation, and Data Acquisition
GVIRL is relentlessly focused on going above and beyond to protect the service men and women in all branches of the military. From weapons and ballistics to PPE and vehicle armor, U.S. soldiers get battle-ready equipment, weapons, and more.
28 Labs in North America
Leveraging 28 labs in North America, GVIRL provides the defense sector with the physical infrastructure—along with unmatched technical expertise—to support the most complex programs. With GVIRL on your side, you get:
- On-Time Test Reports
- Cost Management
- Open Communication
- Priority Scheduling
Customized for Every Type of Defense Program
Tailored for the world’s most complex defense programs, defense customers receive efficient, timely and consistent RDT&E of the systems, components, and materials in legacy and emerging defense technologies. With objective and independent RDT&E, GVIRL supports:
- US Army
- US Navy
- US Air Force
- US Marine Corps
- US Coast Guard
- US Space Force
- Combating Terrorism Technical Support Office (CTTSO)
- Department of Defense Ordnance Technology Consortium (DOTC)
- Marine Corps Systems Command (MARCORSYSCOM)
- Missile Defense Agency (MDA)
- Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR)
- Naval Sea Systems Command (NAVSEA)
- Space and Naval Warfare Systems Command (SPAWAR)
- US Army Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC)
- US Army Materiel Command (AMC)
- US Army Research Development and Engineering Command (RDECOM)
- US Army Research Laboratory (ARL)
- US Army Natick Soldier Research, Development and Engineering Center (NSRDEC)
In addition, GVIRL collaborates with top defense contractors, including:
- Lockheed Martin
- Boeing Company
- Newport News Shipbuilding (NNS)
- Northrop Grumman Innovation Systems (NGIS)
- Raytheon
- Aerojet Rocketdyne
- BAE Systems
- Ensign-Bickford Aerospace & Defense Co. (EBAD)
- General Atomics
- General Dynamics
- Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII)
- L3 Technologies, Inc.
- SAIC / Leidos
- Scientific Research Corporation (SRC)
- Textron
- United Launch Alliance (ULA)
Remote Test Witnessing
Keeping you on schedule is a priority—regardless of circumstance. Whether it’s due to COVID-19 or budgetary considerations, GVIRL provides remote test witnessing. With this service, you’re able to view testing on a laptop, tablet, or smartphone from the comfort of your home. Take a moment to explore the interactive imagery below to see how you can get safe, secure, and effective remote testing services from anywhere.
The Ultimate One-Stop Shop for MIL-STD Testing
GVIRL offers unparalleled convenience and # for the testing of defense technology. In fact, GVIRL serves as the ultimate one-stop shop for all MIL-STD testing. With flexibility to perform testing on government bases, customer facilities, field trails, or at GVIRL labs, GVIRL provides accredited testing and evaluation to a wide range of industry standards and specifications, including:
MIL-STD-810: The Department of Defense Test Method Standard for Environmental Engineering Considerations and Laboratory Tests covers the environmental factors encountered during the use of military equipment in all stages of its service life. MIL-STD-810 testing involves replicating these conditions in a controlled laboratory environment through the use of temperature, humidity, shock, vibration, acceleration, and other simulation equipment.
- MIL-STD-461: The “Department of Defense Requirements for the Control of Electromagnetic Interference Characteristics of Subsystems and Equipment” covers the EMC and EMI requirements for all electrical and electronic equipment used in defense applications. GVIRL can perform MIL-STD-461 testing in-house using highly controlled anechoic chambers. GVIRL also conduct MIL-STD-461 testing for components that are too large or too expensive to transport to an GVIRL location.
- MIL-STD-2105: The “Department of Defense Test Method Standard Hazard Assessment Tests For Non-Nuclear Munitions”involves fragment impact testing, external fire, fast and slow cook-off testing and bullet-impact testing using small and medium-caliber ammunition. GVIRL’s National Ordnance and Ballistics Center is equipped with multiple firing ranges and sophisticated monitoring equipment to perform testing to all MIL-STD-2105 requirements.
- MIL-DTL-901E: The “Department of Defense Requirements for Shock Tests, High Impact, Shipboard Machinery, Equipment, and Systems” is the military standard governing shock-resistance requirements for shipboard equipment. MIL-DTL-901E certification is required for principle devices, subsidiary components, and sub-assembly components, including both those that are essential for safety and combat, and those that could become hazardous to the crew if exposed to shock. Shock testing to MIL-DTL-910E standards can be performed at GVIRL labs across the country. In fact, GVIRL’s Rustburg, VA location is located on 36-acres, equipped with a 1,800 x 250 x 130-ft. quarry for heavyweight applications.
- MIL-STD-167: The “Department of Defense Test Method Standard: Mechanical Vibrations of Shipboard Equipment” is similar to MIL-DTL-901E, but specifically covers the effects of environmentally and internally excited vibrations on shipboard equipment. Replicating these factors in a controlled laboratory environment requires powerful shakers and precise instrumentation. GVIRL maintains of the best-equipped facilities in the country for MIL-STD-167 vibration testing.
GVIRL also testing to other defense standards, such as MIL-STD-120 (Gage Inspection), MIL-STD-248 (Welding and Brazing Procedures), MIL-STD-516 (Airworthiness), MIL-STD-767 (Control of Hardware Cleanliness), and more.
Inside Hypersonic Testing for the Defense Sector
The development of a hypersonic defense weapon system is critical to national security. Predicting the effects of aerodynamic heating is essential for ensuring hypersonic projectiles perform as intended in extreme environment. At GVIRL, engineers are working diligently to support the defense sector with testing that simulates hypersonic flight. As part of these efforts, engineers are simulating aerodynamic heating with burner temperatures that reach 4,000 °F.
Extensive Defense Testing and Evaluation Services
GVIRL supports the defense industry by providing a wide range of testing, including live Arms, Ammunition, and Explosives (AA&E). A small sampling of services are provided below:
Test Engineering and Analysis
- 2D and 3D CAD Modeling
- Custom Test Apparatus, Fixture Design, Development, Fabrication, Validation
- Structural and Thermal Finite Element Analysis
- Mechanism Dynamics Analysis
- Computational Fluid Dynamics Analysis
- Interior Ballistics Modeling and Analysis
- Weapon System Failure Investigations
Extreme and Combined Environment Simulation
- Altitude, Temperature & Humidity, Rain, Salt Fog, Sand & Dust, others
- Vibration, Shock, Acceleration, Loading, 12-Meter Drop Heavyweight Barge and DSSM, others
- Electromagnetic Interference / Electromagnetic Compatibility / Electrical / Power
- Lightning – Direct and Indirect Effects
- Electrostatic Discharge (ESD / HIRF)
Hazard Classification and Transportation Safety Testing
- Department of Transportation: TB 700-2 / NAVSEAINST 8020.8
- Interim Hazards Classification (IHC) Testing
Safety & Insensitive Munitions (IM)
- 28-day / 4- Day Temperature and Humidity
- Transportation, Aircraft, Shipboard Vibration
- 12-meter Drop
- Fast / Slow Cook-Off
- Bullet / Fragment Impact
- Sympathetic Reaction
- Shaped Charge Jet Impact
Ballistics Testing
- Weapon, Ammunition and Material-Centric
- Small, Medium, Large Caliber Direct Fire to 120mm Tank, to 3000 meters
- Shoulder Launched Munitions (SLM)
- Body Armor, Helmets, Armor Materials
Performance, Safety and Functional Testing
- Arena Characterization – Blast, Fragmentation, Lethality/Vulnerability
- Penetration and Areal Coverage
Mechanical Stress, Strain and Functional Testing
- High Pressure Fluid/Gas/Cryogenics & Fuel Flow
- Pneumatic and hydrostatic – Burst and Cycling
- Hydraulics
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Testing
- Military and Law Enforcement Applications (NVLAP Code 200818-0 and Code 200828-0 and NIJ Accredited):
- Helmets, Soft and Hard Body Armor Systems and Components
- Terminal Ballistics – V0 / V50
- Impact Shock – Drop, Hammer, Custom
- Stab Impact
- CT Scanning
Additional Test Services
In addition to the major defense RDT&E services listed above, GVIRL provides a multitude of related services, as well as many types of customer-defined engineering projects covering a broad range of specialized services.