Winning in today’s aerial combat with the F-35 Lightning II requires more than speed alone. True success in the skies depends on high-fidelity virtual training, collaborative joint exercises, and international teamwork to maintain mission readiness. Recently, HII personnel at Nellis U.S. Air Force Base in Nevada teamed up with F-35 pilots from both the U.S. Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force for a coalition exercise within the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE).
Recognized as the U.S. Air Force’s most realistic battlespace simulation, the JSE at the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center Nellis (JITTC-N) offers immersive training in a fully connected synthetic battlespace. HII serves as a key contractor responsible for software development, integration, support, and operations of the JSE.
Hosted by the U.S. Air Force’s 31st Combat Training Squadron (CTS), the exercise aimed to train Royal Australian Air Force pilots in F-35 simulators against contractor-operated adversaries (Red-Air). Feedback gathered during the exercise was used to enhance mission execution during the 29 Test Evaluation Squadron’s Simulation Capabilities Assessment the following week.
