HII Partners with U.S. Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force for Simulated F-35 Joint Training

Achieving victory in modern aerial combat with the F-35 Lightning II demands more than just speed. Success in the skies requires high-fidelity virtual training, joint exercises and global teamwork to ensure mission readiness.

In a recent demonstration of international cooperation, HII personnel at Nellis U.S. Air Force Base in Nevada, USA joined forces with F-35 pilots from the U.S. Air Force and the Royal Australian Air Force for a coalition forces’ exercise in the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE).

Deemed the U.S. Air Forces’ most hyper-realistic battlespace simulation ever, the JSE at the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center Nellis (JITTC-N) provides immersive battlespace training in a seamless, connected synthetic environment. HII is a key contractor in the software development, integration, support and operations of the JSE.

“Joint and coalition simulated training exercises ensure U.S. and allied forces have a dynamic platform to test and refine strategies against emerging threats,” said Michael Lempke, president of HII’s Global Security group. “The recent collaboration with our U.S. and Australian air crews was extremely valuable to all participants and we look forward to replicating similar events in the JSE in the future.”

Hosted by the U.S. Air Force 31st Combat Training Squadron (CTS), the goal of the exercise was to provide Royal Australian Air Force training in F-35 simulators against Red-Air (contractor adversary) training.

“HII and our subcontractor partners were able to execute valuable training for our coalition partners in the most complex and realistic simulation environment,” said Bob Middleton, HII’s JITTC-N deputy site lead/director of operations.

Feedback from the exercise was used to improve mission execution the following week during the 29 Test Evaluation Squadron’s Simulation Capabilities Assessment.

“The success of this exercise proved HII’s capability to operate the JSE system at the highest level required for advanced training for F-35 crews both foreign and domestic,” Middleton said.

“Joint training opportunities like the one we just accomplished with our Australian counterparts are invaluable when it comes to aircrew readiness,” said Tom Atkins, HII JITTC-N site lead and former test pilot. “The JSE provides a dramatic uplift in operational realism and the way pilots prepare for combat, and we’re excited to play a key role in bringing this critical training capability to the military’s tactical aviation community.”

LVC Solutions