The Merge E46 – Expendable Tech for F-35 Threat Training
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Feb 16, 2025 Brett “Snappy” Abbamonte, a former Marine Corps F-35 pilot and program manager at Advanced Strategic Insight, brings his expertise in military training technology to the conversation. He discusses the innovative ELITE system, a low-cost training tool that simulates surface-to-air missile threats. Snappy shares the real-world impacts of this technology on military readiness and the importance of adapting training resources. With insights into the challenges of the F-35 program and the budgetary hurdles in military training, he highlights how creative solutions can enhance operator effectiveness.
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Nellis AFB Training Limitations
- Brett "Snappy" Abbamonte recalls the inadequate threat emitters at Nellis AFB during his time there.
- Circles were drawn on maps to represent threats, highlighting the lack of realistic training resources.
F-35 Exacerbates Training Gap
- The F-35's advanced capabilities exposed the Air Force and Navy's outdated training ranges, which they deemed too costly to upgrade.
- Existing solutions are either too expensive, too low-fidelity, or involve unrealistic simulations.
F-35 Sensor Limitations
- Brett "Snappy" Abbamonte explains how older aircraft could train with simulated threats because their sensors couldn't verify their presence.
- The F-35's advanced sensors require realistic emitters for effective training.