325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
9/25/2013 - TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- When it comes to operating the Air Force's 5th generation fighter, air battle managers from the 337th Air Control Squadron here are leading the way.
The F-35 Lightning II, based at Eglin Air Force Base with the 33rd Fighter Wing, requires a different set of operating rules and they are being written by air battle manager instructors who have had the opportunity to control the F-35.
"Controlling the F-35 mission is extremely similar to controlling other missions during the course of the day." said Lt. Col. Gary Smith, 337th ACS commander. "What makes this mission significant is we have the next generation of air dominance."
Smith explained that air battle managers provide pilots with information they may not have. This information could include vectors to the nearest refueling tanker or simply an update of how many enemies are in a particular area. The information a pilot may need varies from aircraft to aircraft. Air battle managers are responsible for knowing the different capabilities of each aircraft, and making sure the information they pass is relevant to the pilot.
Air battle managers go through a nine-month training course at the 337th ACS at Tyndall, which is home to the Air Force's other 5th generation fighter, the F-22 Raptor. Instructors at the ACS have learned that what is required by an F-22 pilot may not be required by an F-35 pilot, Smith said. As they learn exactly what an F-35 pilot needs, they are able to instruct students on what has to be communicated.
"We teach initial skills training," Smith said. "We teach air-to-air, air-to-ground, large force employment and aviation principles. More than that, we teach fundamentals of command and control."
Until recently, air battle managers teamed with the 325th Fighter Wing to learn how to control fighters like the F-22, but the F-35 has remained out of reach. As F-35 training and testing progresses, Tyndall air battle manager instructors are having more of a role.
"The relationship we have with the 33rd is becoming as important as our relationship has, and continues to be, with the 325th," said the colonel.
Other air battle managers are also taking notice of the capabilities the aircraft has to offer.
"I have been very impressed with the F-35 so far," Capt. Gary Foshee, 337th ACS instructor said. "It has been eye-opening to tactically control America's latest 5th generation fighter."
As the F-35 inches closer to being fully operational in the Combat Air Force, air battle mangers are considering the possibilities that come with it, said Foshee.
"As an instructor air battle manager, I look forward to the operational fielding of the F-35, not only across the Combat Air Force, but also our sister services and partner nations," the captain said. "The F-35 has big shoes to fill, but she is up to the task."
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