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52-473: The Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC, pronounced NAW-DIK) was formerly known as the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC, pronounced "EN-SOCK") at Naval Air Station Fallon located in the city of Fallon in western Nevada . It is the center of excellence for naval aviation training and tactics development. NAWDC provides service to aircrews, squadrons and air wings throughout

104-575: A GCI station, the squadron 's role was to guide interceptor aircraft toward unidentified intruders picked up on the unit's radar scopes. An AN/FPS-3 search set briefly saw service in 1959. During 1962 Fallon AFS joined the Semi Automatic Ground Environment (SAGE) system, initially feeding data to DC-16 at Stead AFB , Nevada. After joining, the squadron was redesignated as the 858th Radar Squadron (SAGE) on 1 December 1962. The radar squadron provided information 24/7

156-559: A core of expertise which functions to advise the Chief of Naval Operations on programmatic issues, and lends its support to real world operations as targeteers providing extensive liaison and standardization to other Naval and joint training agencies. The Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC) encompasses more than 10,200 square miles (26,000 km) of airspace east of NAS Fallon, including a vast array of electronic systems supporting squadron, airwing and SFTI training. The heart of this program

208-613: A department alongside graduate-level weapons schools for other naval aviation platforms. In 2011, the Top Gun program was inducted into the International Air & Space Hall of Fame at the San Diego Air & Space Museum . The school was made famous by the 1986 film Top Gun and its 2022 sequel Top Gun: Maverick , starring Tom Cruise . Quoting Top Gun while at the school incurs an immediate $ 5 fine, as it

260-616: A dynamic, realistic, scenario-driven simulated wartime environment. Air wing training consists of power projection training in strike warfare, amphibious operations, joint battlefield operations, CAS, and CSAR. The Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) course is advanced tactics training for FA-18A-F aircrew in the Navy and Marine Corps through the execution of a demanding air combat syllabus and it produces graduate-level strike fighter tacticians, adversary instructors, and Air Intercept Controllers (AIC). The Growler Tactics Instructor (GTI) course

312-518: A graduate of Top Gun's first class, scored the first kill of a North Vietnamese MiG since September 1968. In 1996, the transfer of NAS Miramar to the U.S. Marine Corps was coupled with the incorporation of Top Gun into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) at NAS Fallon , Nevada. In 2016, NSAWC was rebranded as the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC), where Top Gun remains

364-509: A particular weapon, threat, or tactic. Every instructor was required to become an expert in effective training techniques. All lectures were given without notes after being screened by a notorious " murder board " of evaluators who would point out ambiguities or flawed concepts in the draft presentation. The curriculum was in a constant state of flux based upon class critiques and integration of developing tactics to use new systems to combat emerging threats. Instructors often spent their first year on

416-434: A result, VFC-13 replaced the disestablished VFA-127 in the fighter adversary role. Associated bombing ranges checker the surrounding Lahontan Valley and Dixie Valley , which is the next valley to the east. Dixie Valley also contains a simulated air defense network, including approximately 20 operational radar installations. Many demilitarized armored vehicles , including some exotics, have been scattered throughout

468-424: Is N2, naval intelligence . Within this department are targeting and weapons experts, assisted by enlisted intelligence specialists, who gather data on potential trouble areas around the globe where deployed naval forces might be called for presence or action. Inherent in the intelligence mission is preparation of aircrews for all circumstances they may face in combat. Another function of NAWDC's intelligence department

520-563: Is a United States Navy training program that teaches air combat maneuvering tactics and techniques to selected naval aviators and naval flight officers , who return to their operating units as surrogate instructors. The program began as the United States Navy Fighter Weapons School , established on 3 March 1969, at the former Naval Air Station Miramar in San Diego, California . In 1996,

572-829: Is advanced tactics training for EA-18G aircrew in the Navy through the execution of a demanding air combat and electromagnetic warfare syllabus and produces graduate-level electromagnetic warfare tacticians. The Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SWTI) course develops the Navy's helicopter tactics doctrine via the SEAWOLF Manual; instructs the Navy's Mountain Flying School; provides high-altitude, mountainous flight experience for sea-going squadrons; and provide academic, ground, flight, and opposing-forces instruction for visiting aircrew during Air Wing Fallon detachments. NAWDC staff members augment "adversary" air support, or "bandit" presentations, to support airborne portions of

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624-859: Is also responsible for the development, implementation, and administration of several courses of instruction while functioning as the Navy point of contact for all issues relating to the Air Combat Training Continuum. Additionally, NAWDC is the Navy point of contact for all issues related to the Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC). NAWDC consists of ten departments. Personnel Resources (N1) oversees administrative functions, supply, security, automated information systems, and first lieutenant. The Intelligence Department (N2) provides support to air wing training in Fallon as well as to fleets and battle groups based all over

676-400: Is contingency preparation. When called upon, members will deploy, armed with the latest intelligence gathered, to assist commanders in theater. 39°25′14″N 118°42′47″W  /  39.420575°N 118.712942°W  / 39.420575; -118.712942 Naval Air Station Fallon The airfield is named Van Voorhis Field in honor of Commander Bruce Van Voorhis (1908–1943) who

728-657: Is involved in tactics development and assessment for tactical aircraft and H-60 helicopters, program management and participation, mission planning, and inter/intra service liaison. N5 is the legacy "Strike U" organization and its primary function is the execution of Air Wing Fallon. The C2 (Command and Control) Department (N6), known as the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS) provides graduate-level command, control, communication, battle management, and training to E-2 Hawkeye aircrew, joint and combined personnel. CAEWWS

780-705: Is responsible for the development of community TTP, community tactical standardization and the production of Hawkeye WTIs. In addition to the course of instruction N6 Department conducts, N6 instructors support the N5 Department as Command and Control instructors and evaluators during Air Wing Fallon Detachment training. N6 Department resides in the Fleet Training Building with the N3, N7, and N8 departments. The Navy Fighter Weapon School (N7) instructs advanced methods of strike-fighter employment through

832-647: Is the Advanced Digital Display System or ADDS. This computer-supported real-time digital display allows monitoring of each training event as it occurs on the ranges and recording capability for debriefing. Information is transmitted instantaneously from each aircraft to large screen displays at NAWDC and recorded for playback to the aircrews for post flight analysis of procedures and tactics. This system also allows controllers and aircrews to view an event from several different aspects in three dimensions. One of NAWDC's most interactive departments

884-565: Is the EA-18G Growler weapons school and conducts the "HAVOC" Growler Tactics Instructor course. There are two distinct areas of NAWDC training using the FRTC extensively – carrier air wing (CVW) training and the "TOPGUN" SFTI, "CAEWWS" HEWTI, "HAVOC" GTI, and "SEAWOLF" SWTI graduate level courses. Air wing training brings together all of an air wing's squadrons for four weeks, providing strike planning and execution training opportunities in

936-616: The "TOPGUN" Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) course. It also conducts the Senior Officers Course (SOC); and manages air wing power projection training. N7 personnel retain the traditional light blue T-shirts and light brown leather nametags worn by TOPGUN personnel and have their own spaces (shared with N6 and N8) separate from the main NAWDC building that house the heritage of TOPGUN legacy in forms of photos and other memorabilia. The NAWDC F-16 and F/A-18 aircraft sport

988-470: The Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS) (historically known as “TOPDOME”). Both schools had moved from NAS Miramar as a result of a Base Realignment and Closure decision in 1993 which transferred that installation back to the Marine Corps as MCAS Miramar . The Seahawk Weapon School was added in 1998 to provide tactical training for Navy SH-60 / HH-60 / MH-60 series helicopters and

1040-700: The IAI Kfir and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon ; and the T-38 was replaced by the Northrop F-5E and F-5F Tiger II . In addition to maneuvering skill, knowledge of weapons systems was recognized as important. Weapons system knowledge was determined as a common thread among the 4 percent of World War II pilots who accounted for 40 percent of the enemy aircraft destroyed. The complexity of modern weapons systems requires careful study to achieve design potential. The British writer Rowland White claimed that

1092-528: The United States Navy through flight training, academic instructional classes, and direct operational and intelligence support. The name was changed from NSAWC to NAWDC in June 2015 to align with the naming convention of the Navy's other Warfighting Development Centers (including Naval Surface and Mine Warfighting Development Center (SMWDC), Naval Information Warfighting Development Center (NIWDC), and

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1144-513: The AN/MPS-7 set in 1963. In 1964 an AN/FPS-6 height-finder radar was added. In addition to the main facility at NAS Fallon, the squadron also operated a remote AN/FPS-14 Gap Filler site: Around 1965, Fallon became an FAA /ADC joint-use facility. The AN/MPS-14 radar was retired in 1969. In the early 1970s, the AN/FPS-35 was replaced with an AN/FPS-66 A. Over the years, the equipment at

1196-839: The Airborne Electronic Attack Weapons School (HAVOC) for the EA-18G aircraft was added in 2011, augmenting the legacy Electronic Attack Weapons School (EAWS) for the EA-6B and EA-18G at NAS Whidbey Island , WA. NAWDC is the primary authority on training and tactics development. NAWDC provides training, assessment, aviation requirements recommendations, research and development priorities for integrated strike warfare, maritime and overland air superiority, strike fighter employment, airborne battle management, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Close Air Support (CAS), and associated planning support systems. The command

1248-545: The F-4 community’s most operationally orientated weapons specialists. Top Gun's efforts are dedicated to the Navy’s professional fighter crews, past, present and future." Highly qualified instructors were an essential element of Top Gun's success. Mediocre instructors are unable to hold the attention of talented students. Top Gun instructors were knowledgeable fighter tacticians assigned to one or more specific fields of expertise, such as

1300-411: The Navy recognized NAS Fallon's importance to naval aviation by upgrading the base from auxiliary air station status to a major aviation command as a full-fledged naval air station . While NAS Fallon provides training for visiting carrier air wings , Strike Fighter Squadron 127 ( VFA-127 ), the "Desert Bogeys", was the air station's only permanently based squadron from October 1987 until it

1352-739: The North resumed, most Navy squadrons had a Top Gun graduate. According to the Navy, the results were dramatic: the Navy kill-to-loss ratio against the North Vietnamese Air Force (NVAF) MiGs soared from 2.42:1 to 12.5:1. In contrast, the Air Force, which had not implemented a similar training program, saw its kill ratio worsen for a time after the resumption of bombing, according to Benjamin Lambeth's The Transformation of American Airpower. On 28 March 1970, Lieutenant Jerry Beaulier,

1404-544: The SAGE Direction Center where it was analyzed to determine range, direction altitude speed and whether or not aircraft were friendly or hostile. Also in this time frame, the radar site was relocated from the original location in the south central part of the Naval Air Station grounds to the far southwest corner. At the new SAGE radar site, the squadron used an AN/FPS-35 search radar that replaced

1456-788: The TOPGUN patch on the tail. The Navy Rotary Wing Weapons School (N8) instructs graduate-level rotary wing employment through the "SEAWOLF" Seahawk Weapons and Tactics Instructor (SWTI) course. It also conducts the Strike Leader Attack Training Syllabus (SLATS), Senior Officers Course (SOC), assists N5 with airwing training, and manages the Navy's Mountain Flying Course. Operational Risk Management/Safety Department (N9) manages air-and-ground related safety programs as well as medical training programs. The Airborne Electromagnetic Attack Weapons School (N10)

1508-675: The USN Air Combat Manoeuvring Manual (ACM) and his training methods were instrumental in the creation of Top Gun. The United States Navy Fighter Weapons School was established on 3 March 1969, at Naval Air Station Miramar , California. Placed under the control of the VF-121 "Pacemakers," an F-4 Phantom –equipped Replacement Air Group (RAG) unit, the new school received relatively scant funding and resources. Its staff consisted of eight F-4 Phantom II instructors from VF-121 and one intelligence officer hand-picked by

1560-576: The Undersea Warfighting Development Center (UWDC). NSAWC (now NAWDC) consolidated three commands into a single command structure under a flag officer on 11 July 1996 to enhance aviation training effectiveness. The Naval Strike Warfare Center (informal STRIKE "U" – for Strike University ), based at NAS Fallon since 1984, was amalgamated with the Navy Fighter Weapons School ("TOPGUN") and

1612-553: The airborne battle management, providing graduate-level command, control and communication training to E-2C mission commanders and other carrier aircraft plane commanders. The Plans, Programs and Tactics (N5) department utilizes both NAWDC and fleet aircraft to develop the latest in airwing tactics. These are standardized and promulgated to the fleet via the Naval Warfare Publication 3-01 Carrier Airwing Tactical Memo, and updated bi-annually. The N5 department forms

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1664-607: The area, presumably for ambiance. Most of this area is publicly accessible, with the exception of areas immediately surrounding the radar installations. The entire training area surrounding NAS Fallon is known as the Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC). Between 1956 and 1975, the United States Air Force Air Defense Command (ADC) operated a General Surveillance Radar station at NAS Fallon. The Air Force area

1716-482: The base was known as Naval Auxiliary Air Station and was heavily used during the Vietnam War by various squadrons that rotated through the base before deploying to carriers headed for Vietnam. During these same years prior to 1972, many ground troops were temporarily assigned to NAS Fallon for their hot weather training (during the summer months) and cold weather training (during the winter months). On 1 January 1972,

1768-915: The base. Since 1972 the base has had its own search and rescue team. Originally named Desert Angels and later renamed Longhorns, the team's mission is to provide SAR support for visiting Carrier Air Groups and other NAS Fallon tenant commands. The Longhorns flew the Bell UH-1N from 1972 to 2009 and the Sikorsky SH-60F from 2009 to 2011. The team currently flies the Sikorsky MH-60S. The Longhorns frequently support civilian search, rescue and medical evacuation efforts in conjunction with local law enforcement, medical and search and rescue agencies. TOPGUN The United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program ( SFTI program ), more popularly known as Top Gun (stylized as TOPGUN ),

1820-546: The belief that the era of the classic dogfight was over, leading to their disestablishment and a serious decline in U.S air-to-air combat proficiency that became apparent during the Vietnam War . The pilots who were part of the initial cadre of instructors at Top Gun had experience as students from FAGU. In 1968, Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Admiral Thomas Hinman Moorer ordered Captain Frank Ault to research

1872-411: The claim was false and that they had no role in creating the curriculum and no access to the classified programs that the Top Gun instructors participated in to refine it. During the halt in the bombing campaign against North Vietnam (in force from 1968 until the early 1970s), Top Gun established itself as a center of excellence in fighter doctrine, tactics, and training. By the time aerial activity over

1924-516: The classroom, NAWDC also conducts tactically oriented courses. The SOC addresses strategic and tactical issues at the battle group commander, air wing commander and squadron commanding officer level. SLATS introduces junior Navy and Marine Corps officers to all aspects of air wing, battle group and joint force tactics, planning and hardware. Another important course is the Advanced Mission Commander's Course (AMCC) which focuses on

1976-595: The early school was influenced by a group of a dozen flying instructors from the British Royal Navy 's Fleet Air Arm , who were assigned to Miramar as exchange pilots and served as instructors in VF-121. A British newspaper, The Daily Telegraph , declared in a 2009 headline, "American Top Gun Fighter Pilot Academy Set Up by British." However, the British naval pilots mentioned in the article confirmed that

2028-547: The failings of the U.S. air-to-air missiles used against the Vietnam People's Air Force during the then-ongoing Vietnam War . Operation Rolling Thunder , which lasted from 2 March 1965 to 1 November 1968, ultimately saw almost 1,000 U.S. aircraft losses in about one million sorties . Royal Navy and South African Brigadier General Dick Lord along with others were sent to assist the US Military. He wrote

2080-534: The school was merged into the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center at Naval Air Station Fallon , Nevada . An earlier U.S. Navy air-to-air combat training program, the U.S. Navy Fleet Air Gunnery Units, or FAGU, had provided air combat training for Naval Aviators from the early 1950s until 1960. In June 1956, Fleet Air Gunnery Unit Pacific held the Navy Fleet Air Gunnery Meet at NAAS El Centro . In April 1957, Naval Air Weapons Meet 1957

2132-624: The school's first officer-in-charge, Lieutenant Commander Dan Pedersen , USN. Together, F-4 aviators Darrell Gary, Mel Holmes, Jim Laing, John Nash, Jim Ruliffson, Jerry Sawatzky, J. C. Smith, Steve Smith, as well as Wayne Hildebrand, a naval intelligence officer, built the Naval Fighter Weapons School syllabus from scratch. To support their operations, they borrowed aircraft from its parent unit and other Miramar-based units, such as composite squadron VC-7 and Fighter Squadron VF-126 . The school's first headquarters at Miramar

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2184-527: The staff learning to be an effective part of the training environment. Top Gun initially operated the Douglas A-4 Skyhawk and borrowed USAF Northrop T-38 Talons to simulate the flying characteristics of the MiG-17 and MiG-21 , respectively. The school also used Marine-crewed Grumman A-6 Intruders and USAF Convair F-106 Delta Dart aircraft when available. Later adversary aircraft included

2236-555: The station was upgraded or modified to improve the efficiency and accuracy of the information gathered by the radars. The 858th Radar Sq was inactivated and replaced by the 858th Air Defense Group in March 1970. The upgrade to group status was done because of Fallon AFS' status as a Backup Interceptor Control (BUIC) master control center site. BUIC sites were alternate control sites in the event that SAGE Direction Centers became disabled and unable to control interceptor aircraft. The group

2288-460: The training. NAWDC also annually hosts a ten-day CSAR exercise providing all-service participation with one full week of exercise flying involved. Concurrent with each SFTI course, NAWDC conducts an Adversary Training Course where pilots receive individual instruction in threat simulation, effective threat presentation and adversary tactics. Each class trains five to six Air Intercept Controllers in effective strike/fighter command and control. In

2340-457: The world. Additionally, N2 contains the CIS (Computer Information Systems) division. Operations (N3) manages scheduling for aircraft, aircrew, the training ranges, and keeps aircrew log books and records. The Maintenance Department (N4) maintains all NAWDC aircraft, including parts and supplies, manages the loading, unloading and storage of ordnance, and maintains aircrew flight equipment. Strike (N5)

2392-473: Was awarded a posthumous Medal of Honor . The airfield at NAS Fallon was originally built in 1942 as part of a defensive network to repel a feared Japanese invasion of the west coast. It was soon taken over by the Navy for training use and has been used as such ever since with the exception of the period of 1946 to 1951, during which it was used by the Bureau of Indian Affairs . During the years prior to 1972,

2444-465: Was disestablished on 23 March 1996. The Navy relocated its Navy Fighter Weapons School , or TOPGUN, from NAS Miramar to NAS Fallon in 1996, following the transfer of NAS Miramar to the Marine Corps and its redesignation as MCAS Miramar . This move resulted in the construction of a new ramp, hangars and academic buildings. The new command, the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC),

2496-676: Was established on 11 July 1996 and was a unification of TOPGUN, Strike University (Strike U), the Naval Strike Warfare Center, and TOPDOME, the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School. In addition to transferring the NSAWC squadron, a Navy Reserve adversary squadron, Fighter Squadron Composite THIRTEEN ( VFC-13 ), the "Saints," was also permanently relocated from its former base at NAS Miramar to NAS Fallon. As

2548-430: Was held at NAAS El Centro. In April 1958, Naval Air Weapons Meet was held at NAAS El Centro. From 30 November to 4 December 1959, the last Naval Air Weapons Meet was held at MCAAS Yuma . Signage called it "Top Gun". Fleet Air Gunnery Unit Pacific and Marine Training Groups were closed, as an economy, and a doctrinal shift, brought on by advances in missile, radar, and fire control technology, contributing to

2600-551: Was in a stolen modular trailer. According to the 1973 command history of the Navy Fighter Weapons School, the unit's purpose was to "train fighter air crews at the graduate level in all aspects of fighter weapons systems including tactics, techniques, procedures and doctrine. It serves to build a nucleus of eminently knowledgeable fighter crews to construct, guide, and enhance weapons training cycles and subsequent aircrew performance. This select group acts as

2652-667: Was inactivated and replaced by the 858th Radar Squadron. as defenses against manned bombers were reduced only to be inactivated in June 1975. The group was disbanded in 1984. The FAA retained the AN/FPS-66A search radar, still in-use today and is networked into the Joint Surveillance System (JSS); the radar tower still is painted with red-and-white checkerboard. The navy maintains the Naval Air Station Fallon Air Park museum on

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2704-454: Was named Fallon Air Force Station (AFS) and designated ADC site SM-156 (later NORAD site Z-156). The 858th Aircraft Control and Warning Squadron moved to Fallon AFS from Hamilton Air Force Base (AFB), California in the south central section of NAS Fallon in 1956. It initially activated AN/MPS-7 search and AN/MPS-14 height-finder radar sets, and initially the station functioned as a Ground Control Intercept (GCI) and warning station. As

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