06 Dec 24. US Air Force’s F-35 JSE likely to reach IOC in 2025. The JSE is a simulated battlespace designed for training on fifth-generation aircraft. The US Air Force, alongside Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) and the Navy, is accelerating the development and integration of the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) technology, aiming to surpass the capabilities of adversaries.
The JSE, a simulated battlespace designed for training on fifth-generation aircraft like F-35 joint strike fighter, is predicted for initial operational capability (IOC) by 2025 at the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center Nellis (JITTC-N) located at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada.
Full operational integration is anticipated by 2028, according to HII specialists.
Construction of the JSE facility at Nellis Air Force Base commenced in 2020 under the direction of the US Air Force Test Center.
In the following year, the Air Force Operational Test and Evaluation Center completed the accreditation process for the JSE.
This milestone was marked by the completion of 64 missions in September 2023, enabling the Joint Strike Fighter Operational Test Team (JOTT) to finalise the F-35 initial operational test and evaluation.
In May, Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD) engineers implemented core software within the JSE facility at Nellis Air Force Base, setting the stage for future operations.
As the primary contractor at JITTC-N, HII is responsible for conducting capability studies, integrating battlespace and platforms, and developing software.
The JSE is built upon six foundational elements, including a modular software battlespace environment that leverages existing Department of Defense modelling and simulation technologies.
It also features a physical computing infrastructure to execute the battlespace simulations, ownship simulations that serve as the system under test, and pilot interfaces such as cockpits and visual display systems.
Additionally, the JSE incorporates planning, control, and briefing rooms to support mission execution.
HII Mission Technologies Live, Virtual, Constructive (LVC) vice-president Mike Aldinger said: “[JSE] is so critical for the warfighter because today’s training ranges just can’t keep up with the fifth-gen platforms and how they need to train.
“These platforms can’t train systems high—they don’t have the space required on ranges. You don’t get the threat densities, and you can’t keep up with the adversary threat evolution.”
In a separate development, HII secured a $6.7bn contract to furnish electronic warfare engineering and technical services for the US Air Force. (Source: airforce-technology.com)
06 Dec 24. British soldiers deploy to snowy Estonia for major Nato warfighting exercise. The British Army have joined Nato allies in Estonia for Exercise Pikne which is seeing them train under the alliance’s Vigilance Activity Brilliant Eagle.
Over two weeks, British, French, Latvia, American and Estonian troops will deploy on the Sirgala training ground in the northeast of the country to take part in the international military exercise Pikne, which translates to mean lightning.
During their stay in Estonia, British soldiers are taking part in combat drills with their allies in simulated war situations.
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The exercise is being led by the Estonian Division, which is acting alongside units from the Estonian Defence Forces and the Estonian Defence League.
The main activities of the exercise, running until 15 December, will involve land and air forces.
The first week will focus on the deployment of units and practising combat activities, while the second week is planned for live fire exercises by allied units at the Sirgala training area.
Various combat and cooperation exercises involving the Estonian and French navies will take place on the Gulf of Finland.
Approximately 2,000 servicemen from Great Britain and allied countries will participate in Exercise Pikne.
“We are putting the synergy and cooperation to test across different countries, branches of service and units,” said the Chief of Staff of the Estonian Division, Colonel Janno Märk.
Col Märk said: “The French forces are practising their ability to rapidly deploy units to Estonia by air and sea at short notice and to jointly defend Nato territory alongside us and other allied units.
“The Defence Forces have long-term experience of cooperation with the armed forces of France, the United Kingdom and the United States in crisis areas.
“Today we must be ready for a smooth, powerful joint cooperation in the field of defence on our territory.” (Source: forces.net)