NAS Patuxent River

Located on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Naval Air Station Patuxent River, commonly known as “Pax River,” the base was established in 1943 during World War II as a major U.S. Navy flight testing center. Built on former farmland and fishing communities in southern Maryland, the installation quickly became one of the most important naval aviation research and development facilities in the United States. Over the decades, Pax River has played a central role in the testing and evaluation of countless naval aircraft programs, from early carrier-based piston aircraft to modern jets, helicopters, unmanned systems, and advanced weapons integration platforms.

Today, Pax River serves as the headquarters for major Navy and Marine Corps aviation test organizations, including the Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR) and multiple air test squadrons such as Air Test and Evaluation Squadron 21. Its mission focuses on flight testing, systems evaluation, aircraft integration, pilot training support, and the development of future naval aviation capabilities. The base is widely recognized as one of the world’s premier military aerospace testing centers, supporting programs such as the Sikorsky CH-53K King Stallion, F-35 Lightning II, V-22 Osprey, and next-generation unmanned aviation systems.