China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station, Military Base

CHINA LAKE, Calif. (July 10, 2019) – An F/A-18 Hornet assigned to the “Vampires” of Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9) taxis into a stall at Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake (NAWSCL) following flight operations. Naval Air Weapons Station China Lake resumed flight operations following a 7.1 magnitude earthquake, which occurred near NAWSCL and the city of Ridgecrest, Calif., July 5 and a 6.4 magnitude earthquake one day prior. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Nicholas Burgains)

China Lake Naval Air Weapons Station is the high desert home of the Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division, where the Navy and Marine Corps have developed or tested nearly every significant airborne weapon system in the past five decades.

Missiles such as Sidewinder, Shrike and Walleye are just a few of the many products at China Lake, which have been developed for the fleet.

China Lake Naval Air Station Information

Condition: Operational
Years in Use: 1942–present
Controlled by: Navy Region Southwest
Current Commander: RDML Keith ‘Brownie’ Hash
Garrison: Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD)
Base Occupants: Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 9 (VX-9), Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 31 (VX-31)
Open to the Public: No