Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center The U . S . Navy ' s Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center ( AUTEC ) is an instrumented laboratory that performs integrated three - dimensional hydrospace / aerospace trajectory measurements covering the entire spectrum of undersea simulated warfare : calibration , classifications , detection , and destruction . Its vital mission is to assist in establishing and maintaining naval ability of the United States through testing , evaluation , and underwater research . General information . The sophisticated facility includes three test ranges : the Weapons Range , the Acoustic Range , and the FORACS Range , all located in the Tongue of the ocean ( TOTO ) , a deep - ocean basin approximately long by wide with depths as great as . The main AUTEC support base and downrange tracking stations are on Andros Island in the Bahamas , just west of Nassau and about southeast of West Palm Beach , Florida . Deep water range . The deep water Weapons Range lies roughly parallel to the east coast of Andros Island . It is the largest and most versatile of the AUTEC ranges , and it is capable of tracking up to 63 in - water objects simultaneously . The range is supported by the Main Base ( Site 1 ) and various smaller sites located to the south along the east coast of Andros Island . AN / WQC - 2A Sonar Communications Sets and Bi - Directional Communications Nodes provide underwater voice communications for mobile target and emergency command signal coverage , while HF , UHF , and VHF radio communications are available over the entire range . In - air tracking . In - air tracking is provided by radars and various other in - air tracking systems such as LATR , the Hyperbolic In - Air Tracking System ( HITS ) , and DGPS . These in - air systems cover the AUTEC Weapons Range up to a distance of from Site 1 and a height of 70 , 000 feet ( 21 , 000 m ) . Surveillance radars operate to support air and surface safety . In - water tracking . The in - water portion of the Weapons Range covers 500 square nautical mile s ( 1 , 700 km² ) . This range can be divided into two distinct tracking areas consisting of roughly 250 square nautical miles ( 850 km² ) . This flexibility allows for the unique operation of two distinct individual exercises . Use of the total range is referred to as " Weapons Range " , while dividing the range into two distinct portions , the northern section is referred to as " Weapons Range North " , whereas the southern portion is called " Weapons Range South " . Electronic Warfare Threat Simulator . EWTS is a real - time system that will generate complex , dynamic , electromagnetic signal environments at the radio frequency ( RF ) level . With this system , AUTEC will offer capabilities to test different platform receivers in an open - air , over - the - water range . The system consists of a radar simulator , pedestal and controller , antennas , high - power amplifiers , calibration equipment , and an operator workstation . The system is housed in an air - conditioned radome and located on a tower . Tasks . The typical task performed at AUTEC is testing and certifying the proficiency of U . S . Navy submarine captains and their crews , as well as the accuracy of their undersea weapons . Brief history of AUTEC . During the 1940s and 1950s , the U . S . Navy ' s need for a deep water test facility became so apparent that in 1958 the Chief of Naval Operations established an advisory group to determine the location and specifications for testing underwater vehicles , weapons , and weapon systems . As a result of the extensive studies of this group , the Secretary of the Navy in November 1959 directed establishment of the Atlantic Undersea Test and Evaluation Center ( AUTEC ) under the Bureau of Ships ( now Naval Sea Systems Command ) to provide a deep water test and evaluation facility for making underwater acoustic measurement , testing sonar , and providing accurate underwater , surface and air tracking data on ships and weapons in support of the U . S . Navy ' s antisubmarine and undersea research and development programs . The area chosen for AUTEC was the Tongue of the Ocean ( TOTO ) located between the islands of Andros , New Providence , and Exuma Sound in the Bahamas . Chosen because of its ideal natural characteristics , and its climate which permits year - round operations , the TOTO is a U - shaped , relatively flat - bottomed trench approximately wide by long with a depth which varies gradually from in the south to in the north . Its only exposure to the open ocean is at the northern end , and except for this ocean opening , the TOTO is surrounded by numerous islands , reefs , and shoals which make a peripheral shelter isolating it from ocean disturbances , particularly high ambient noise which degrades undersea tests and evaluations . A joint United States / United Kingdom Agreement signed in 1963 with the concurrence of the Bahamian Government , enabled the United States to develop this area of water and certain territory on the east coast of Andros Island , readily accessible to the TOTO , and there install equipment to build three offshore test ranges . Under this agreement , the Royal Navy has equal access to the test facility . Construction of the Navy ' s Main Base and the downrange tracking sites on Andros Island began in March 1964 , and the initial cadre of officers and men arrived by U . S . Navy LST in August 1965 . In October of that year , Commander G . P Barney arrived as the first permanent Officer - in - charge , Andros Ranges , and the official dedication of AUTEC was held on 14 April 1966 . The complex electronics installation was accomplished from fall of 1965 to fall of 1966 , and in September 1966 RCA Service Company was awarded the Maintenance and Operations Contract for AUTEC . Temporary U . S . Mainland Headquarters was opened at the Orlando Air Force Base in September 1966 with Captain L . L . Jackson , Jr . , being assigned as Prospective Commanding Officer . Following a study of possible locations for a permanent headquarters the West Palm Beach area was chosen due to the combined facilities of the airport and the Port of Palm Beach , plus its close proximity to Andros Island . On 26 February 1967 , AUTEC was commissioned at West Palm Beach when Admiral E . J . Fahy , Commander , Naval Ship Systems Command , presented Captain Jackson with orders making him the first Commanding Officer , and AUTEC became an operational field activity . In May 1967 , headquarters personnel moved from Orlando to West Palm Beach and established offices at the Palm Beach International Airport in the building which was formerly the Airport Terminal . In July 1967 at a Change of Command ceremony on Andros Island , Commander Barney was relieved by the new Officer - in - Charge , Andros Ranges , Commander Frank A . Smith . First of the three ranges to become operational was the Weapons Range in 1966 . This was followed by the Acoustics Range , a portion of which became operational in 1968 with a total operational capability anticipated by the end of 1969 . First phase of the Sonar Range became operational in January 1968 , and the final phases , were scheduled to be completed and operational by 1974 . " Source : U . S . Navy AUTEC Soundings , August 1969 . " Namesakes . Major facilities at AUTEC ' s Andros Island base were named in 1969 in honor of various Navy heroes : " Source : U . S . Navy " AUTEC Soundings " August 1969 " " Source : Chickcharney News , April 1987 "