Edwards AFB to get new JSE facility

The US Air Force is to build a new facility at Edwards Air Force Base (AFB) to house the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE), the USAF announced on 17 January.

Construction crews are reconfiguring the simulator and computer systems inside Building 1020 to make room for a small-scale JSE system that can be used to ensure all systems are operational and internal issues are rectified before the actual JSE facility is finished.

In addition to the 72,139sq ft JSE facility at Edwards AFB, the USAF plans to construct a 50,967sq ft JSE facility at Nellis AFB, Nevada. The Edwards facility will focus on developmental testing while the Nellis AFB facility will focus on operational testing.  

JSE is a scalable and expandable, high-fidelity modelling and simulation environment to conduct testing on fifth-plus generation aircraft and systems as a supplement to open-air testing. The JSE’s objective is to give testers and engineers the ability to test multiple platforms during their developmental and operational testing phases.

The build for both facilities will begin in May 2020.