Catalogue description Ministry of Defence: Central Tactics and Trials Organization: Reports

The Central Tactics and Trials Organization was set up on 30 April 1968 to ensure the central co-ordination of trials and the development of tactics. It was located alongside HQ Strike Command at High Wycombe, although there was also a trials section at HQ Air Support Command, Upavon and a liaison cell at the Armament Experimental Establishment, Boscombe Down; Station Trials Co-ordination officers were based at each station where trials were to be flown.

The organisation was headed by an Air Commodore, with scientific staff below him who liaised with both the trials and the tactical studies staff, which included a Fighter Interception Rule Writing Group. Liaison officers from both the Royal Navy and the Army were based at the establishment in order to maintain close contact with tactical thinking outside the Royal Air Force. The organisation did not have any aircraft allotted to it - the concept being to use front line aircraft and crew for any trials flying.

As a result of experience gained during the Gulf War, it was felt that mission support elements should be combined into a central establishment. The Central Tactics and Trials Organization was one of the elements combined with the Department of Air Warfare, the Electronic Warfare Operational Support Establishment and the HQ Strike Command Operational Research Branch to form the Air Warfare Centre at RAF Waddington in 1993.