A Northrop Grumman Corporation-designed virtual and constructive training suite saw extensive use during the recent Exercise Northern Edge 2015, held in Alaska, the company announced August 7, helping mark several milestones in the development of capable virtual training systems able to link up with live-fly events. From June 11-26, the participants in Alaska were connected to other forces operating at sites across the US by the LEXIOS system, or Live Virtual and Constructive (LVC) Experimentation, Integration and Operations Suite. “Northern Edge was the largest (live virtual and constructive) integration seen to date in any of the services,” said Capt. Matthew Mendenhall, chief of command and control operations for the 353th Combat Training Squadron at Eielson AFB, Alaska. Through the LEXIOS system, virtual aircraft were flown by live aircrews, enabling airmen to participate in the exercise in the same airspace as those flying real aircraft over the Alaska ranges. The exercise also saw the first successful integration of virtual mobility and combat aircrews which could support live flight operations and the first operational training event via the distributed mission operations network, said Northrop Grumman’s Martin J. Amen, director of satellite and network operations for the company’s information systems group.
Amid a high-profile recruiting crisis, Air Force leaders and experts have increasingly noted the challenging long-term trends the service will face in enticing young Americans to sign up—decreasing eligibility to serve, less propensity to do so, and less familiarity with the military. But while those same leaders say there’s no “silver…