U.S. Naval Museum of Armament & Technology

The Museum is located on the US Naval Air Weapons Station, China Lake. A large variety of present and past, US Navy aircraft, weapons and technology are available for close up viewing and scrutiny. In addition the Museum has a well stocked gift shop with books, videos, clothing and other paraphrenalia relative to the museum's exhibits. Much of the weapon development heritage of the China Lake facility--past, present, and future--is unique and irreplaceable, and has been nationally recognized as a critical resource that has provided advanced weapon system development and support for maintaining the United States' unsurpassed military strength from World War II to the present. The history of the China Lake military mission is unique indeed. The museum preserves and displays many unique achievements in naval air and surface armament and technology. On 22 January 1992 NWC was disestablished. The RDT&E functions of NWC were combined with the T&E functions of three other Navy activities to form the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division; the NWC facilities, military administration, and airfield functions were consolidated into the Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake.Today China Lake carries out the complete weapon-development process--from basic and applied research through prototype hardware fabrication, test and evaluation, documentation, and Fleet and production support. China Lake is home to approximately 4,400 civilian employees and about 1,000 military personnel (including tenant Operation Test and Evaluation Force squadron VX-9) and is supported by over 1,500 contractor employees.