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Royal Australian Air Force F-35 Lightning II pilots have joined their US Air Force counterparts in a cutting-edge virtual training exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, showcasing the growing strength of joint allied operations in simulated combat environments.
Hosted at the US Air Force’s Joint Integrated Test and Training Center in Nevada, the coalition training took place within the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) – described as the most hyper-realistic battlespace simulation ever developed by the US military.
The system delivers immersive, high-fidelity combat training that replicates complex, modern aerial warfare conditions with unprecedented accuracy.
Personnel from Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII), the prime contractor for the JSE, facilitated the exercise, which included Royal Australian Air Force F-35 pilots undertaking advanced training against simulated adversaries, referred to as “Red Air” operated by contract aggressor forces. The exercise was coordinated by the US Air Force’s 31st Combat Training Squadron.
HII is responsible for the JSE’s software development, system integration, support and operational delivery, playing a pivotal role in enabling advanced joint and coalition training across the US and allied services.
Michael Lempke, president of HII’s global security business, said, “Joint and coalition simulated training exercises ensure US and allied forces have a dynamic platform to test and refine strategies against emerging threats.”
“The recent collaboration with our US and Australian air crews was extremely valuable to all participants, and we look forward to replicating similar events in future,” Lempke added.
Bob Middleton, deputy site lead and operations director at the Nellis-based JITTC-N for HII, highlighted the impact of the training for both nations’ F-35 operators, saying, “We were able to execute valuable training for our coalition partners in the most complex and realistic simulation environment available. The results directly fed into improved mission performance during subsequent evaluation events.”
Lessons learned from the joint simulation were incorporated into follow-up activities conducted by the US Air Force’s 29th Test Evaluation Squadron, further enhancing training outcomes and future mission readiness.
Tom Atkins, HII’s site lead at JITTC-N and a former test pilot, emphasised the importance of international collaboration in fifth-generation airpower readiness, saying, “Joint training opportunities like the one we just accomplished with our Australian counterparts are invaluable when it comes to aircrew readiness. The JSE provides a dramatic uplift in operational realism and transforms how F-35 pilots prepare for combat.”
The JSE enables pilots to train for multi-domain operations across highly contested environments without the limitations or costs of live training. It supports the development of tactics and strategy in scenarios that would be difficult or impossible to replicate in real-world exercises.
The RAAF’s participation in the JSE reflects Australia’s deepening integration with the US in advanced simulation and next-generation air combat training, ensuring that Australian F-35 pilots remain among the most capable and combat-ready in the world.
