Page 58 - Combat Aircraft (January 2020)

SQUADRON SHOWCASE // US NAVY FIGHTER WEAPONS SCHOOL

standards is certainly indicative of the says, ‘I see the school becoming a bit type’s suitability to the suppression of
fact that they support our mission.’ more focused on the integrated fourth enemy air defenses (SEAD) role.
When asked about the impact of the and fifth-generation fight, whilst still Reflecting on the developments ahead,
new movie on TOPGUN’s mission, Myers maintaining the dedication that we Myers says, ‘When I flew the F-14, I
remarked, ‘We focus primarily on the job have to individual aircrew performance, remember F-4 pilots talking about how
at hand: training the next generation of because that’s really what the Ault easy it was to fly an F-14 — now it’s the
Strike Fighter Tactics Instructors. It helps Report talked about. Regardless of the most difficult airplane I’ve ever landed on
that we’re very busy, which means we schemes, no matter what the strategic an aircraft carrier. Every modernization
don’t have time to sit and bask in the employment of the force might look like, is a significant step-change. The
spotlight. We are also very confident individuals in their warfighting platforms incorporation of the F/A-18 into TOPGUN
in our identity and appreciate that the make a difference. Making sure that you
original Top Gun movie is a Hollywood are focused on individual training and
rendition of the school.’ While a new raising the level of every one of those
movie is surely good news for navy individuals makes the collective a much
recruitment and overall morale, any talk more powerful fighting force.’
of it at Fallon is quickly diverted back NAWDC will receive two F-35s in the
to the importance of the training and summer of 2020, with F-35Bs and Cs from
the mission. the US Marine Corps and US Navy coming
It’s an evolving picture at TOPGUN as in for each class. TOPGUN has no present
the first F-35 students arrive in January, plans to fly F-35s as adversaries. The
breaking a collegiate cycle of Hornet air-to-surface focus of the F-35 is likely to
and Super Hornet training and adding herald a tweaked syllabus compared with
overall complexity to the syllabus. Myers the Super Hornet, especially given the

58 January 2020 // www.Key.Aero

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