In LVC First, Northrop Grumman and US Air Force Link Fifth- and Fourth-Generation Fighters
August 08 2016 - 2:00PM
Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) and the U.S. Air Force have
achieved the first integration of fifth- and fourth-generation
fighter aircraft – a critical capability to prevail in combat –
during a live, virtual and constructive (LVC) training event.
As part of Distant Frontier training at the Joint Pacific Alaska
Range Complex, Northrop Grumman integrated two virtual F-22 Raptor
fifth-generation fighters to fly and train alongside four live
fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcons.
The F-16 aircraft were from the Air Force's 80th Fighter
Squadron based at Kunsan Air Base, Korea, operating out of Eielson
Air Force Base. The F-22s were operated by members of the 90th
Fighter Squadron from simulators at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson
in Anchorage.
They trained for air-to-air combat against four live F-16s from
the 18th Aggressor Squadron based at Eielson Air Force Base.
"The 353rd Combat Training Squadron with great support from
Northrop Grumman is spearheading efforts to integrate LVC elements
into day-to-day training. As adversaries continually improve their
capabilities, the ability to add LVC is critical to best train and
prepare F-22 pilots for dealing with the full complement and degree
of threats," said Col. Brian E. Toth, the 354th Operations Group
commander at Eielson Air Force Base. The group's component units
include the 353rd Combat Training Squadron and 18th Aggressor
Squadron.
"LVC is vital for fifth-generation aircraft. It provides
realistic threats and is capable of evolving to meet future
training requirements," said Toth.
A predecessor to the large-scale, joint Red Flag-Alaska advanced
aerial combat training exercise hosted at Eielson Air Force Base,
Distant Frontier provides unit-level training for local and
deployed units to enhance tactical interoperability.
"No aircraft goes to war alone. With our increasingly joint and
networked approach, fighter integration training is extremely
consequential to effective execution in combat," said Martin J.
Amen, director, satellite and network operations, Northrop Grumman
Mission Systems. "Although Distant Frontier is a small-scale
training event, with this achievement Northrop Grumman has
demonstrated that we can provide full-spectrum combat training and
truly transform the way pilots train to fight."
The live F-16 and virtual F-22 participants were linked by the
LEXIOS (LVC Experimentation, Integration and Operations Suite)
system developed by Northrop Grumman. Through LEXIOS, virtual
aircraft operated by actual aircrew members participate in the same
airspace alongside their live counterparts via networked simulators
at full security levels. Constructive – simulated forces in a
simulated environment – components can also be used to augment the
battlespace with a full complement of threats.
"The ability to provide combat air forces with LVC training at
this level of realism as threat environments become increasingly
complex and networking needs escalate is significant, particularly
when we can also provide cost savings to the Air Force," said
Amen.
Northrop Grumman is the prime contractor for the Air Force's
Distributed Mission Operations Network (DMON), a system that
enables dissimilar aircraft platforms located across the globe to
seamlessly interoperate and train together in a realistic virtual
environment. Northrop Grumman has been working on the Combat Air
Forces Distributed Mission Training Operations and Integration
program since its inception in 1999. LEXIOS builds and integrates
elements of the DMON and enables live interaction.
Northrop Grumman is a leading global security company providing
innovative systems, products and solutions in autonomous systems,
cyber, C4ISR, strike, and logistics and modernization to customers
worldwide. Please visit www.northropgrumman.com for more
information.
CONTACT: Janis Lamar
703-556-1650
janis.lamar@ngc.com
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