Top Aces F-16s return to Nellis
December 8, 2024
Top Aces says that its F-16 aircraft represent the most advanced commercial ADAIR (Adversary Air) solution available today. Their fast, highly manoeuvrable F-16s are equipped with AESA radar, a Scorpion Helmet Mounted Cueing System, Link-16, and advanced EA capabilities.
Top Aces is a privately owned company that provides advanced mission-critical adversary air (ADAIR) and joint terminal attack controller (JTAC) training to NATO and allied forces worldwide.
In 2021, Top Aces became the first private company in the world to acquire the F-16, purchasing a fleet of second hand F-16As from Israel. The company claims that these are “the only true fourth generation airframe available to train US combat air forces.”
The Top Aces’ F-16s have been upgraded with the company’s proprietary Advanced Aggressor Mission System (AAMS) which allows the aircraft to simulate the highly advanced capabilities of modern-day opponents in air-to-air combat, while prolonging the customers’ fleet life and generating significant cost savings.
Powered by an open system architecture, AAMS enables the rapid integration of advanced sensors and functions, and its plug-and-play nature will allow for the addition of new and emerging sensors allowing the aircraft to be upgraded to meet the needs of the US Air Force (and other customers) for years to come.
AAMS currently includes an Active Electronically Scanned Array (AESA) air-to-air radar, the Scorpion Helmet-Mounted Cueing System (HMCS), Link 16 tactical datalink, Infrared Search and Track (IRST) systems, High Fidelity Weapon Simulation allowing accurate replication of adversary tactics and an Advanced Electronic Attack pod as well as passive RF detection capabilities. These can be co-ordinated to provide a spectrum of realistic and representative adversary effects.
The Top Aces F-16s are flown by an elite team of fighter pilots, many of whom are experienced USAF Aggressors or US Air Force Weapons School graduates.
