The Joint Simulation Atmosphere is taking part in a key position in creating ways and operational ideas for integrating Collaborative Fight Plane with the F-35.
Advancing the hassle in direction of integrating F-35A Lightning II fighters with Collaborative Fight Plane (CCA), the Naval Air Warfare Heart Plane Division (NAWCAD) not too long ago built-in F-35s with the uncrewed techniques in its Joint Simulation Atmosphere (JSE) coaching system. The Jan. 5, 2025 announcement outlined the “tactical demonstration” within the JSE, which created reasonable and real-world eventualities to place in place protocols and procedures earlier than fifth-generation F-35s start working unmanned fight techniques.
The CCA effort globally seems to be largely addressing how you can make use of these drones in fight, quite than a technological maturation effort. Minor and main security, operation, logistical, tactical and communication protocols would want freezing, earlier than the CCAs are thrown into fight.
The JSE simulator, which creates a “hyper-realistic simulation setting” with 4K projectors and software program replicating a “near-exact digital battlespace,” has been operational since 2021 on the Naval Air Station Patuxent River (NAS Pax River), Maryland. A part of the syllabus for the Navy Strike Fighter Ways Teacher Course, or TOPGUN, the JSE was developed “out of a necessity to totally check F-35 capabilities and pilots,” in line with Naval Aviation Information.
An unrelated picture of a pilot working a simulator contained in the Naval Air Warfare Heart Plane Division’s Joint Simulation Atmosphere at Naval Air Station Patuxent River, Maryland. (Picture credit score: U.S. Navy courtesy photograph)
F-35 and CCA simulated integration
In keeping with the discharge, the occasion employed “superior modeling and simulation” to “develop ways and methods for fifth-generation” plane just like the F-35 which function CCAs.
“Trendy warfare is demanding extra from our aviators,” NAWCAD commander Rear Adm. Todd Evans stated. “This milestone exhibits the Joint Simulation Atmosphere’s influence on equipping them with the superior ways they should win future battles.”
The demonstration noticed F-35 pilots utilizing touch-screen tablets “to manage a number of CCA throughout simulated missions.” In truth, tablets strapped on the thigh are rising because the preliminary mode for working CCAs, as seen in an F-22 Raptor’s current management check of a GA-ASI MQ-20 Avenger, and Japan trialing miniature drones from inside helicopters.
“Utilizing superior operational communication techniques and precision-guided missiles, pilots engaged advanced threats within the JSE’s extremely reasonable digital setting,” the discharge added.
An illustrative video by Collins Aerospace on its mission autonomy techniques exhibiting F-35s controlling and tasking CCAs can be instructive. Tablets can be helpful at the very least for single-seat stealth fighters just like the F-35s and Gen. 4.5 jets that aren’t purpose-built for an additional crew member and mission techniques that might be working CCAs.
NAVAIR referred to as the JSE the Division of Protection’s “state-of-the-art digital check and coaching vary that replicates real-world fight eventualities in a digital setting.”
“Constructed by NAWCAD engineers, the JSE combines cockpit simulators, superior software program, and domed visible shows to permit pilots to coach and check techniques in a protected, managed setting,” stated NAVAIR. “The JSE allows pilots to fly extra sorties in a single week than they will on open-air ranges in a yr, sharpening their expertise and bettering readiness.”
In keeping with the Dec. 19, 2023 launch on NAN, greater than 500 pilots have used the JSE up to now, which has additionally seen the participation of Lockheed Martin in its improvement. The JSE’s greatest benefit is replicating enemy threats that may, albeit simulated, detect, monitor and have interaction an F-35, which no different plane within the U.S. stock can. This helps validate ways and ideas, whereas additionally assessing and incorporating inputs of the intelligence neighborhood on adversary techniques.
The JSE can introduce “further threats and extra harmful eventualities,” together with “denial zones” of digital assault jamming. Instructors can roughly “drag and drop” new eventualities and threats “in a matter of minutes within the JSE.”
“The JSE allows such a various coaching setting {that a} group of scholars may fly greater than 50 missions in per week and by no means encounter the identical state of affairs,” the discharge stated.
Meet the way forward for air dominance. 💪
Two @usairforce F-35As paired up with an XQ-58A Valkyrie uncrewed fight aerial system for a current check, showcasing the seamless connectivity of the F-35 with an autonomous platform—making a workforce that’s even smarter and quicker. pic.twitter.com/87Rr3cQhel
— F-35 Lightning II (@thef35) November 26, 2024
U.S. and different nations’ CCAs
The U.S. Navy not too long ago selected Boeing, together with Anduril, Lockheed Martin and Normal Atomics, to supply conceptual designs for carrier-borne CCAs.
The MQ-28A Ghost Bat is prone to be a contender for the U.S. Navy’s CCA undertaking, provided that the plane was seen within the background of an official Dec. 6, 2025 video about Secretary Pete Hegseth’s go to to Naval Air Station Level Mugu, California. This hinted that the service is presumably evaluating the plane to find out the necessities for its CCAs.
An unmanned system being actively examined by the Navy is the MQ-25 Stingray, which is primarily an uncrewed refueler, and is predicted to be built-in aboard plane carriers this yr. Defend AI’s X-BAT Vertical Take-Off Touchdown (VTOL) CCA has additionally been depicted working off carriers and common amphibious assault ships and floor combatants.
The USN refused to develop it, as a substitute opting to purchase the MQ-25 Stingray – an unmanned tanker that’s little greater than a flying drop tank for its fleet of F/A-18s and F-35Cs.
I believe the notorious Fighter Mafia, sensing an existential menace, intervened to kill this system. pic.twitter.com/nkFlOtW1Nx
— Armchair Warlord (@ArmchairW) June 9, 2023
The discharge stated this in regards to the Navy’s CCAs: “Navy’s CCA are multi-role uncrewed fight automobiles that can function with crewed fighters enhancing the mission effectiveness of crewed platforms in extremely contested environments. They’re central to the Division’s future technique, enabling pilots to concentrate on high-level decision-making whereas increasing operational capabilities. The JSE is taking part in a key position in creating ways and operational ideas for integrating these techniques with fifth-generation platforms just like the F-35.”
US Navy plans to subject an unmanned “joint fight plane” (CCA), much like the one being developed by the Air Pressure. The US Navy has already chosen American Normal Atomics Aeronautical Methods (GA-ASi), which is creating the same strike UAV and for the US Air Pressure. pic.twitter.com/Od2MpNdhwI
— Valhalla (@ELMObrokenWings) October 18, 2025
The U.S. Air Pressure in the meantime is flight testing Anduril’s YFQ-44A and the 2 prototypes of Normal Atomics’ YFQ-42A as part of the CCA Increment 1 program, and not too long ago designated Northrop Grumman’s Mission Talon because the YFQ-48A. Talon is prone to be a contender for the Increment 2 section. The service can be parallelly working with the XQ-58A Valkyrie, which has been managed by manned plane earlier this yr.
China’s GJ-11, and Turkey’s Kizilelma are two of the opposite flying CCA examples, the place the previous seems to be operational primarily based on its markings and paint scheme in a current publicity video. The Kizilelma in the meantime has proven refined maneuvers, together with monitoring and fascinating targets with its onboard Murad 100-A Energetic Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) radar and the Gökdoğan long-range AAM.
