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The Merge

E46 – Expendable Tech for F-35 Threat Training

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.
53:00

Podcast summary created with Snipd AI

Quick takeaways

  • The podcast emphasizes the urgent need for adaptable training systems that reflect real-world threats to enhance military readiness.
  • The Elite system is introduced as a cost-effective and portable threat emitter, improving training opportunities without significant financial burden.

Deep dives

Training on Threat Emulators

The episode discusses the importance of using realistic threat emulators during military training exercises. The SA-20 system is highlighted as a standard reference for training, but the actual threats posed on the ranges may differ, indicating a need for adaptable training systems. The conversation revolves around the use of target-like objects alongside these systems to ensure training scenarios accurately reflect potential real-world situations. Emphasizing the necessity for better training equipment, the speakers suggest integrating solutions that mimic high-end combat capabilities effectively.

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