Lonely Skies: Air-to-Air Training for a 5th Generation Fighter Force, and Are You Experienced? Fresh Look at the Fifth-Generation Fighter Pilot Experience Model, F-22 and F-35 Aircraft, Simulator Use

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These interesting reports are included in this compilation: (a) Lonely Skies: Air-to-Air Training for a 5th Generation Fighter Force, and (b) Are You Experienced? Fresh Look at the Fifth-Generation Fighter Pilot Experience Model.

(a) This study analyzes how the U.S. Air Force can use training to prepare its F-22 and F-35 pilots to meet future operational requirements. The author begins by reviewing six historic examples of the Air Force's use of combined flight and simulator training to provide a representative environment for pilot training. The author then shows how the lessons learned from these examples have led to the development of an air-to-air training approach that requires representative flight and simulator training at the squadron level. Next, this approach is analyzed as it has been applied to F-22 and F-35 air-to-air training to meet the combatant commanders' requirement for the pilots to be proficient at air combat against enemy 4th generation fighter threats. This analysis reveals several shortfalls in the current training approach for the F-22 and F-35 fighter aircraft pilots. Contemporary F-22 and F-35 pilots do not train against sufficient quantities of representative threats in flight or adequately dynamic threats in simulators. The author concludes that these deficiencies could lead to pilots applying the wrong lessons learned in training, which could reduce their effectiveness in combat. The author then analyses three potential changes the Air Force could make to fill the training gaps in the current approach. These gaps and proposed solutions provide insight into the requirement for the Air Force to invest not only in new technologies, but also in the means to train pilots of advanced aircraft.

(b) Experienced fighter pilots are required in many positions both inside and outside the cockpit, including squadron supervision, flight instruction, and headquarters staffs. The definition of fighter experience has changed little since its creation over thirty years ago. Based solely on flight time in either the primary weapons system or high-fidelity simulator, the definition needs to be reexamined as the USAF acquires new aircraft. Fifth generation fighter aircraft, the F-22 and F-35, provide incredible performance and capability, but also present risks to the growth of the experienced fighter pilot population. Decreased aircraft utilization rates and pilot flight time results in a substantially longer period before a new pilot achieves fighter experience. Fifth generation utilization rates are less than fourth generation rates due to increased maintenance requirements and periodic software changes. As a result, a fifth generation pilot can take nearly 40% more time to accrue the requisite flight hours to achieve experience. As a result of longer time to experience, the pilot production pipeline is slowed and vacant pilot positions are left unfilled. Despite flying at a slower rate, many fifth generation pilots complete the Flight Lead Upgrade along similar periods of time as their fourth generation counterparts. This upgrade teaches a pilot the leadership traits necessary to lead formations of aircraft in combat. Those same traits are qualities needed to fill experienced pilot positions. To accurately define the quality and capabilities of the fighter pilot population, the definition of fighter experience should be amended to include completion of the Flight Lead Upgrade. The legacy hours-based model should also be maintained to account for those pilots unable to complete the upgrade.

This compilation includes a reproduction of the 2019 Worldwide Threat Assessment of the U.S. Intelligence Community.