During a recent event, the PMTEC and NAVAIR PMA-205 partnership continued normalizing the use of JLVC environments and expanded upon the capabilities demonstrated in Valiant Shield 24. This event provided critical lessons learned to inform future training events, and generate data to guide decision-makers on future development and procurement including range infrastructure upgrades.  These efforts serve as a crucial steppingstone towards Valiant Shield 26, envisioned as a large-scale exercise incorporating coalition partners and connecting ranges from Australia to the continental United States.

PMTEC and PMA-205 expanded the aviation training environment in several groundbreaking ways. In a significant technical advancement, fully informed FA-18E/F and EA-18G simulators, along with E-2D simulators, were connected to live aircraft. Simulators from Naval Air Station (NAS) Whidbey, NAS Lemoore, and Point Mugu were connected, and the synthetic environment was controlled from a Link Inject-To-Live ground station in Lemoore. Beyond Line-of-Sight data and voice transmission were provided via an Unmanned Aircraft System, through the Navy Continuous Training Environment, and an underway guided-missile destroyer.

A key demonstration involved training exercises conducted with Carrier Air Wing Eleven live aircraft from NAS Lemoore flying in operating areas over the Pacific Ocean and connected to simulators in Lemoore, Whidbey, and Point Mugu. This connected, distributed training allowed aircrew to practice their tactics, techniques, and procedures in an integrated environment to attain greater lethality and survivability should threats emerge.

This joint collaborative event executed under the PMTEC Operations, Activities, and Investment sphere of influence, integrated Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps equipment and personnel from multiple ranges, training areas, and training hubs (including Tactical Training Group Pacific) in southern California, at Vandenberg Air Force Base; Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division-Orlando; and Naval Air Station Oceana.

By honing the skills and refining the tactics, techniques, and procedures of our warfighters through realistic, integrated training environments, we enhance our ability to deter aggression and maintain peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, directly supporting the Secretary of Defense's goal of peace through strength and demonstrating our commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific. Commenting about this groundbreaking event, Dr. Andre Stridiron III, PMTEC Program Manager, stated “The PMTEC and NAVAIR PMA-205 partnership’s iterative learning process and data collection is fueling collaborative, Multi-Domain advancements through Joint Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) enabled Training, Experiments, and Rehearsals. These activities involve Industry, Coalition, and Joint Staff stakeholders and take place West of the International Date Line, within the First and Second Island Chains, signifying just one of many such initiatives.”