The U.S. Naval Research Laboratory's Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 serves as the Navy's sole research and development flying unit, bridging laboratory breakthroughs with real-world operational deployment through airborne experimentation and technology evaluation.

"The science we enable is ambitious, often foundational, and it unfolds over years," said VXS-1 Commanding Officer Cmdr. Tony Levine. "But our purpose is immediate and unwavering: to defend the nation. Every line of code, every prototype, every test run - we partner with the scientists and do it with a mission in mind."

Based at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland, the "Warlocks" provide the first proving ground for NRL's airborne systems, ensuring innovations are ready for use in the fleet.

"VXS-1 is NRL's own

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