Rear Adm. John Dougherty IV, Commander of the Naval Air Warfare Center Aircraft Division (NAWCAD), described the milestone as “a game-changer that ushers in a new era of interoperability for aviation’s combat community.” He added the exercise was a crucial step in making joint training standard for Navy and Air Force pilots beginning this spring.
The training included pilots from Marine Fighter Attack Squadrons VMFA-122, VMFA-225, and VMFA-311, alongside Air Force F-22 pilots from both the Combat Air Forces and the test community. Over two days, the pilots flew 17 simulated combat missions against advanced threats that can only be replicated within the JSE.
“The cross talk [while training in the JSE] is unparalleled,” said F-22 pilot Capt. Brett Myer. “It helps iron out a lot of the small details that really matter when it comes down to it.”
The JSE offers a cost-effective and secure alternative to real-world training, which is expensive and limited in realism and scale. It immerses pilots in high-threat environments using actual hardware and software, enabling extensive mission rehearsal and post-mission analysis through cockpit recordings.
“Having those person-to-person connections between the Air Force, the Navy and the Marine Corps [in the JSE] is the most important part,” said Maj. Patrick Hoffer of VMFA-225. “At the end of the day, it’s going to be the people that win our nation’s wars.”
Developed by NAWCAD engineers and industry partners, the JSE features domed simulators and enables pilots to fly more combat sorties in one week than they would typically fly in a year on open-air ranges. This allows for rapid skill development and in-depth feedback, significantly enhancing combat readiness.
The JSE is already integrated into the Navy’s elite Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Program, known as TOPGUN, and will be expanded to include more warfighter programmes. Future additions include the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye this year, and the F/A-18 Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler in 2026.
NAWCAD supports all Navy and Marine Corps aviation platforms through research, development, testing, and sustainment across multiple U.S. sites. Its facilities in Maryland, New Jersey, and Florida play a central role in delivering next-generation training and technology to U.S. defence forces.
