F-35 Training at Nellis to be Transformed by JSE in 2025: Discussing the Future Direction of the Technology
Air Force's Revolutionary Training Technology to Transform Warfighter Preparation
Pilots at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada will commence training this year using the U.S. Air Force's most realistic combat simulation ever, as the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) reaches initial operational capability at the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center Nellis (JITTC-N). This marks the first phase of the Air Force's groundbreaking training technology overhaul, expected to significantly alter how military personnel prepare for combat.
Experts from HII's Mission Technologies division, a major contractor in the software development, integration, and support of the JSE, assert that the Department of Defense is fully committed to the JSE, with $2.5 billion allocated toward its establishment at Nellis and expansion to other installations in Fiscal Year 2025.
As the technology matures, facilities like the one at the JITTC-N will be established at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, and other locations. The technology is designed to be utilized not only at U.S. Air Force bases but also at F-35 bases for the Navy and international allies.
Mike Aldinger, Vice President of Business Development in Mission Technologies' Global Security group, which encompasses live, virtual, and constructive training capabilities, described the JSE as "setting the benchmark" and "revolutionizing how they train." He believes it will take several years to reach a stable state as more services and partners integrate.
The Space Force, in particular, has become increasingly involved in the Air Force-Navy focused effort to work together on JSE, according to Aldinger. U.S. Air Forces in Europe and coalition partners, such as Australia and the United Kingdom, have expressed keen interest in receiving JSE access and training solutions.
John Bell, Mission Technologies' Chief Technology Officer, envisions that ten years from now, the JSE would enable warfighters to train not only like they fight but also where they fight. This would involve sailors on ships and airmen stationed at various bases or deployed in air bases, all linked in a distributed network of simulation systems.
JSE facilities incorporate both hardware (glass cockpits and domed simulators with 4K projectors) and software that mimics actual aircraft software. Combined, they form a highly realistic virtual battlespace for tactical pilots to train in. The F-35 will serve as the initial fighter platform, with the physical cockpit made up of modular components, allowing for other platforms like the F-22, E-7, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft to have their own simulator in the near future.
A significant aspect of the JSE is the inclusion of training for unmanned wingmen and autonomy, a new component within the system. JSE's high-fidelity environment, capable of accommodating up to eight warfighters simultaneously, is primarily focused on team and joint training. It will allow warfighters to learn how to work together in complex environments, taking their training to the graduate level where they focus on teamwork, advanced tactics, and effective information sharing.
- The Space Force has shown great involvement in the Air Force-Navy collaborative effort to develop the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE).
- With the F-35 serving as the initial fighter platform, the JSE facilities will eventually include simulators for other aircraft like the F-22, E-7, and Collaborative Combat Aircraft.
- Program experts from HII's Mission Technologies division believe the JSE's high-fidelity environment, which accommodates up to eight warfighters, will revolutionize team and joint training for advanced tactics and effective information sharing.
- Part of the JSE's innovation is its focus on training for unmanned wingmen and autonomy, a new component within the system, ensuring the preparation of military personnel for future space force operations.
