Originally published SPARTA Brings E-2D Simulation Capabilities into the JSE on by https://modernbattlespace.com/2025/06/04/sparta-brings-e-2d-simulation-capabilities-into-the-jse/ at Modern Battlespace
Collins Aerospace will deliver its first E-2D Special Program Advanced Readiness Trainer Afloat / Ashore (SPARTA) deployable simulation system to be fully installed and integrated into the Joint Simulation Environment (JSE) at Naval Air Station Patuxent River in the summer of 2025.
The addition of SPARTA will add critical E-2D simulation capabilities to the JSE, which serves as the military’s high-fidelity, physics-based environment for simulated training, product development, internal testing, and validation. This will enable aviators to virtually train on an aircraft that is considered to be one of the most important for modern aviation missions.
By integrating the SPARTA into the JSE, the U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) will continue to develop a virtual training environment suite that will enable pilots to conduct training missions that include the E-2D systems and other aircraft – creating a more representative simulation.
To learn more about SPARTA, the JSE, and why the integration of the two is so important, we sat down with Gavin Jernigan, a Senior Business Development Manager for Collins Aerospace’s Simulation and Training Solutions (STS) Division, as well as a former F/A-18 Hornet Weapons and Tactics Instructor for the United States Marine Corps.
The Modern Battlespace (TMB): The JSE started as a testing environment for the F-35, but it’s now being used for more than that – including training. How and why did the JSE evolve from an F-35 testing environment to a synthetic environment for testing and training on multiple platforms?
Gavin Jernigan: When the F-35 was chosen as America’s fifth-generation fighter, the DoD recognized that they would need a virtual testing platform to truly test and evaluate its capabilities. The JSE was the result – a virtual testing environment where the F-35 could be pushed to its limits away from the prying eyes of our adversaries.
However, while the JSE was being used for evaluating the F-35, the DoD recognized they could also use it to help train future F-35 pilots. In fact, we’ve heard from some F-35 pilots that it was some of the best, most effective simulator training they’ve ever received.
Because of its value as a training environment, the DoD is looking to leverage the JSE for mission rehearsal and to train other pilots on new capabilities and different platforms.
TMB: Why is it a good thing to have an integrated testing and training environment like the JSE? What does that enable for the military?
Gavin Jernigan: The JSE has not only enabled pilots to train on the F-35, but it has also turned training into an extension of the testing and evaluation process. Because of its status as both a testing and training tool, the JSE can be the arena to evaluate operational deficiencies and identify new problems that may have been missed in testing.
The addition of SPARTA will add critical E-2D simulation capabilities to the JSE, which serves as the military’s high-fidelity, physics-based environment for simulated training, product development, internal testing, and validation.
TMB: What is SPARTA? What aircraft can aviators train on using SPARTA?
Gavin Jernigan: The SPARTA is a deployable simulation system upon which U. S. Navy E-2D aircrew can train. The E-2D training software suite created by Collins Aerospace is comprised of 22 aircraft common equipment (ACE) systems and commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) computers. To create SPARTA, we had to consolidate all of these systems into two servers that could be easily deployed in locations with limited space.
This resulted in a single device that is portable and can be easily deployed on U.S. aircraft carriers.
The SPARTA system has been designed for versatile use, functioning both as a standalone solution and as part of an integrated training environment suite with F-35 and F/A-18 systems as part of the Navy’s Sims@Sea program.
TMB: What role does SPARTA play in the Navy’s Sims@Sea program? Why is it important to have SPARTA available for E-2D aircrew when they’re deployed?
Gavin Jernigan: The E-2D plays an incredibly specialized and important role in air combat. It has an incredibly capable radar that enables it to function as an airborne early warning aircraft – effectively alerting other aircraft of approaching threats, and helping other aircraft locate and differentiate allied forces from adversary forces.
Because of the importance of the E-2D, it will invariably play a role in future air combat missions, and any simulated air battle or airborne operation would be incomplete without it. While on extensive deployments of nine months or more, aircrew need to ensure their skills and capabilities don’t atrophy while underway.
Unfortunately, the E-2D simulator must incorporate the entire command and control role and mission of the aircraft, making it much more complicated and much larger than the simulators for many fighter aircraft. If the DoD was going to ensure that E-2D aircrew could continue training and be ready for combat, we needed to identify a way to bring that specialized simulator onto aircraft carriers. This is what led to the creation of SPARTA.
TMB: I understand that SPARTA will soon be integrated into the JSE Training Centers. What will this enable Navy aviators to do in the future? How will it enable them to better prepare for real-world missions?
Gavin Jernigan: SPARTA’s implementation into JSE training locations facilitates the highest levels of realistic training for both the E-2D aircrew as well as the other aviators training around them.
SPARTA is generally the preferred training device for the E-2D because it has a small physical footprint, which enables more training devices for other aircraft in these JSE locations. However, it is important to note that this smaller E-2D training system is just as effective as some of the more traditional larger training devices.
“SPARTA’s implementation into JSE training locations facilitates the highest levels of realistic training for both the E-2D aircrew as well as the other aviators training around them.” – Gavin Jernigan
TMB: Following the initial deployment of SPARTA on a single aircraft carrier, I understand that the Navy is now taking steps to roll SPARTA out across the fleet. What does this say about SPARTA and the need for E-2D training while afloat? Why was SPARTA chosen for these particular implementations?
Gavin Jernigan: Yes, to date, Collins Aerospace has delivered a SPARTA to three different carriers and is under contract to develop, and deploy eleven more SPARTAs to additional carriers and various other locations.
Similar to the value SPARTA brings to the JSE training centers, the limited physical space on aircraft carriers demands small training devices. The limited maintenance needs and the COTS components of a SPARTA make it an easy and invaluable means for aircrew to maintain and even improve proficiency.
TMB: With SPARTA solutions deployed on every carrier and at each JSE Training Center, is there any opportunity for users at disparate locations to train together in a synthetic environment? Is that possible today? If not, what will it take for that to become possible in the future?
Gavin Jernigan: The possibility absolutely exists; however, the network infrastructure and commitment to its development are required. However, I can envision a scenario where live-fly aircraft on training ranges are connected with our SPARTA in a virtual environment like the JSE, ensuring the warfighters have flexibility in their training approaches while maintaining the highest levels of fidelity.
Originally published SPARTA Brings E-2D Simulation Capabilities into the JSE on by https://modernbattlespace.com/2025/06/04/sparta-brings-e-2d-simulation-capabilities-into-the-jse/ at Modern Battlespace
Originally published Modern Battlespace
