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Nevada Test and Training Range

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) is a vast United States Air Force installation northwest of Las Vegas, Nevada, comprising approximately 2.9 million acres of restricted land and over 12,000 square miles of controlled airspace, designated as the largest contiguous battlespace available for peacetime military training and testing in the free world.^[1]^[2] Managed under the Air Force Warfare Center at Nellis Air Force Base, the NTTR enables realistic, multidimensional combat simulations essential for tactics development, weapons testing, and joint exercises involving U.S. and allied forces.^[3] Its instrumented infrastructure supports advanced aerial, ground, and electronic warfare training, including the premier Red Flag exercises that replicate high-threat environments to enhance warfighter proficiency.^[4] Originally rooted in post-World War II bombing ranges like the Tonopah Test Range established in the 1940s, the NTTR evolved from the Nellis Air Force Gunnery and Bombing Range, with formal organizational lineage tracing to the 98th Range Wing redesignated in 2001 to reflect expanded testing and training roles.^[5] The range's remote desert terrain and airspace restrictions facilitate high-fidelity operations without civilian interference, incorporating specialized sites such as Groom Lake—better known as Area 51—for classified aircraft development and evaluation, including early stealth technology prototypes.^[6] This integration of live-fire ranges, simulated integrated air defense systems, and over 1,200 target assets underscores the NTTR's critical function in maintaining U.S. air superiority through empirically validated training regimens.^[7]

Geography and Physical Features

Location and Boundaries

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) occupies a vast expanse in southern Nevada, encompassing approximately 2.9 million acres (4,531 square miles) of federally withdrawn land primarily in Nye, Lincoln, and Clark counties.^[1] This area, administered by the U.S. Air Force as an extension of Nellis Air Force Base, lies roughly 10 to 140 miles north and northwest of Las Vegas, extending into remote desert regions unsuitable for civilian development due to its designation for high-hazard military activities.^[8]^[1] The range's boundaries are delineated by historical executive orders and Department of Defense designations, forming an irregular polygon that isolates it from public access. The southern boundary aligns closely with the northern edges of Nellis Air Force Base and Creech Air Force Base near the urban fringe of North Las Vegas, while the eastern limit follows roughly along U.S. Route 93 toward Alamo. To the north and west, the perimeter reaches into Nye County's arid basins, including sites near Ash Meadows and Tikaboo Peak, with the Groom Lake facility (Homey Airport) situated centrally within the northern division at coordinates 37.2431°N, 115.7930°W.^[8]^[9] These land boundaries enclose a "simulated Integrated Air Defense System" and over 1,200 fixed targets, enforced by physical barriers, surveillance, and legal prohibitions on entry.^[8] Overlying airspace totals about 12,000 square miles, segmented into restricted areas R-4801 through R-4808 (with sub-designations like R-4808N/P), where R-4808 alone covers 4,543 square miles from surface to unlimited altitude.^[4] Approximately 5,000 square miles of this airspace bans civilian overflights entirely to mitigate risks from live-fire exercises and high-speed maneuvers, while an adjacent 7,000 square miles permits supervised transit under air traffic control protocols.^[1] These airspace boundaries, coordinated via the NTTR Operations Control Center, extend beyond the surface footprint to accommodate multidimensional training scenarios.^[4] The overall configuration prioritizes operational security and safety, with adjacent federal lands—including Bureau of Land Management holdings—buffered to prevent encroachment.^[10]

Terrain and Landforms

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) occupies terrain typical of the Basin and Range physiographic province in southern Nevada, featuring elongated, north-south oriented fault-block mountain ranges separated by broad, alluvium-filled valleys and basins.^[11] These landforms result from extensional tectonics that have shaped the region's topography over millions of years, with valleys often topographically closed and floored by Quaternary alluvial deposits, while uplands expose older bedrock.^[11] The overall landscape is arid desert, with sparse vegetation dominated by creosote bush and Joshua trees in lower elevations, transitioning to piñon-juniper woodlands on higher slopes.^[12] Elevations span a wide range, from valley bottoms at approximately 3,000 to 4,000 feet in the southern sectors to mountain crests exceeding 7,000 feet, and up to 9,000 feet in the northern divisions such as the Kawich and Reveille Ranges.^[13]^[12] Prominent landforms include volcanic mesas like Pahute Mesa and Rainier Mesa, which cap Tertiary volcanic sequences; extensive playas or dry lake beds, such as those in the Groom and Papoose basins; and bajadas—gentle slopes of coalesced alluvial fans at range fronts.^[11] Bedrock consists primarily of Paleozoic sedimentary rocks (limestones and dolomites) in the ranges, overlain by Tertiary ignimbrites and lavas in mesa areas, with minimal glacial or fluvial modification due to the hyper-arid climate.^[11] This varied topography, unaltered in most areas except for military targets and access roads, provides diverse training environments, from flat basin floors suitable for low-altitude maneuvers to rugged highlands simulating complex terrain for air-to-ground operations.^[12] The NTTR's landforms reflect ongoing tectonic activity, with active faulting contributing to seismic hazards, though surface expressions remain subtle outside of occasional scarps.^[11]

Northern and Southern Divisions

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) is administratively divided into Northern and Southern Ranges to support efficient management of its 2.9 million acres across Clark, Lincoln, and Nye counties in southern Nevada.^[14] This bifurcation aligns with operational squadrons, including the former 98th Northern Range Support Squadron overseeing northern activities and the 98th Southern Range Support Squadron handling southern ones, enabling specialized training, testing, and airspace control.^[15] The Northern Range spans about 1.8 million acres, featuring semi-arid to arid terrain in the Great Basin Desert with annual precipitation of 4–16 inches and mountainous elevations reaching 10,164 feet MSL in areas like Reveille North.^[14]^[4] It includes the Tolicha Peak Electronic Combat Range (TPECR), located approximately 28 miles north of Beatty, Nevada, which supports electronic combat training with threat simulators and instrumentation systems like Airborne Instrumentation Pods for telemetry.^[14]^[4] Restricted airspace sectors such as R-4808N, R-71N/S, and Pahute Mesa host air-to-surface gunnery, strikeable targets, and legacy radiological zones from nuclear tests (e.g., Palaquin site at N37°16.81' W116°31.47'), with operations constrained by minimum altitudes of 500 feet AGL and prohibitions on supersonic flight below 5,000 feet AGL in certain subareas.^[4] The Southern Range manages the balance of NTTR acreage, incorporating terrain that transitions from Great Basin features to Mojave-influenced mountains with peaks up to 9,370 feet MSL in Caliente A/B/C and flat basins in areas like R-63C.^[4] It encompasses the Point Bravo Electronic Combat Range and restricted sectors including R-4809, R-63 series, Coyote A/B/C/D, and Elgin, facilitating air-to-ground ordnance delivery, high-speed moving targets (e.g., Target Complex 6208 in R-62A/B), and remotely piloted aircraft operations in designated zones like R-64D-G.^[4] Restrictions mirror northern protocols, such as no ordnance below 5,000 feet AGL in Coyote and Caliente areas, subsonic requirements near population centers like Caliente (N37°36.83' W114°31.33'), and airspace from surface to unlimited altitudes under Nellis control, with added emphasis on combined arms exercises proximate to Nellis Air Force Base.^[4] Both divisions integrate with overlying Military Operations Areas (MOAs) and Air Traffic Control Assigned Airspaces (ATCAAs) up to FL600, ensuring multidimensional battle-space for joint forces while minimizing environmental impacts through limited direct mission footprints (about 5% of land).^[14]^[4]

Adjacent Areas and Facilities

Nellis Air Force Base, situated at the southern core of the NTTR, functions as the primary administrative and logistical hub, encompassing runways, hangars, and support infrastructure essential for range operations across the 2.9 million acres of surrounding NTTR land.^[16] Creech Air Force Base, located approximately 45 miles northwest of Las Vegas and outside NTTR boundaries, supports drone operations and acts as an auxiliary airfield for emergency diversions during NTTR exercises.^[10] The Tonopah Test Range, bordering NTTR to the north and covering 335,000 acres under joint Department of Energy and Air Force oversight, facilitates nuclear and conventional weapons testing that complements NTTR's training focus, with shared protocols for airspace and resource coordination.^[10] Leach Lake Tactics Range in California receives operational support from NTTR personnel for advanced tactical training extensions beyond Nevada's borders.^[16] East and south of the NTTR lie portions of the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, totaling 1,614,554 acres, where 845,787 acres are withdrawn for Air Force use and an additional 112,000 acres designated for bombing impacts under a 1997 memorandum of understanding that allocates primary military jurisdiction while preserving secondary wildlife management for species like bighorn sheep and desert tortoise.^[10] Bureau of Land Management holdings encircle much of the NTTR, administering adjacent public domains for grazing, mining claims, and limited recreation such as hunting, with federal withdrawals ensuring military primacy over 2 million acres of NTTR terrain originally under BLM stewardship.^[10] The NTTR's southern perimeter interfaces with the expanding Las Vegas metropolitan region, prompting Air Force assessments of high-risk adverse impact zones to mitigate urban development encroachments on safety and noise buffers.^[17] Northern extensions approach remote Nevada communities like Tonopah, while western boundaries align with arid federal expanses managed to restrict civilian access during active range periods.^[10]

Historical Evolution

Origins in World War II Era Ranges

The Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range, the foundational component of what later became the Nevada Test and Training Range, was established on October 29, 1940, by President Franklin D. Roosevelt via executive order, covering approximately 3.5 million acres of arid Nevada desert north and northwest of Las Vegas.^[18]^[19] This vast tract was selected for its remoteness, minimal population density, and diverse terrain—including dry lake beds, mountains, and valleys—which facilitated safe, large-scale aerial maneuvers without endangering civilians or infrastructure.^[18] The creation addressed the U.S. Army Air Corps' urgent need for dedicated spaces to train aircrews in gunnery, bombing, and tactical formations amid escalating global tensions preceding U.S. entry into World War II.^[20] Adjacent to the range, the Las Vegas Army Air Field (predecessor to Nellis Air Force Base) was activated on July 1, 1941, serving as the primary hub for operations and integrating seamlessly with the bombing and gunnery activities.^[21] During the war, the range supported intensive training for bomber groups, including B-17 Flying Fortress and B-24 Liberator crews, emphasizing high-altitude precision bombing, dive bombing, skip bombing, and aerial gunnery against towed targets and mock installations.^[19] Units such as the 82nd and 100th Bombardment Groups utilized the facility for combat simulation, contributing to the rapid buildup of skilled aviators deployed to theaters in Europe and the Pacific; for instance, pilots practiced evasive maneuvers and ordnance delivery over designated impact areas spanning thousands of square miles.^[22] The range's isolation minimized risks from errant munitions, though early operations involved rudimentary ground targets and live-fire exercises that scarred the landscape with craters still visible today.^[19] By war's end in 1945, the range had proven indispensable for honing U.S. airpower capabilities, with over 1,000 aircraft rotations daily at peak usage, underscoring its role in causal advancements in aerial warfare doctrine through empirical testing of tactics and equipment under desert conditions.^[20] Postwar demobilization temporarily reduced activity, but the infrastructure laid during the WWII era— including auxiliary fields like Indian Springs and Tonopah—formed the enduring backbone for subsequent expansions into nuclear testing and advanced training domains.^[21]

Post-War Expansion and Nellis Integration

Following the end of World War II, the Las Vegas Army Air Field and its associated Las Vegas Bombing and Gunnery Range, which encompassed over 3.5 million acres established in 1940, entered standby status in December 1946 due to reduced training needs.^[23]^[24] Reactivation efforts began in August 1947 as a bomber crew training center, with functional reopening in January 1948 and training operations resuming by March 1949, focusing on advanced pilot instruction including gunnery.^[20] This period marked the initial post-war integration of the expansive range with base operations, enabling sustained aerial gunnery and bombing practice amid emerging Cold War demands, though a portion of the range—approximately 680 square miles—was designated for nuclear testing as the Nevada Proving Grounds starting December 1950, later evolving into the Nevada Test Site.^[25] On May 1, 1950, the base was renamed Nellis Air Force Base in honor of First Lieutenant William H. Nellis, a Las Vegas native killed in action during World War II, solidifying its role as the administrative and operational hub for the range's military training activities.^[24]^[20] The renaming coincided with expanded use of the range for jet-era proficiency, as Korean War veterans served as instructors and the facility hosted early gunnery competitions, such as the first post-war meet in May 1949.^[24] This integration transformed the range from a wartime temporary asset into a permanent fixture of Nellis' mission, supporting tactical air command's shift toward fighter and weapons training while accommodating nuclear-related restrictions on select areas. Throughout the 1950s, Nellis underwent significant infrastructure expansions to enhance range utilization, including runway strengthening and lengthening from 1951 to 1958, alongside construction of permanent housing and facilities like the base chapel and theater to support growing personnel.^[20] By June 1954, the base hosted the first all-jet gunnery meet, reflecting adaptation of the range for supersonic aircraft training, and established the U.S. Air Force Fighter Weapons School to develop advanced tactics using the range's vast airspace and terrain.^[26]^[20] These developments entrenched the range's role in Nellis' operational framework, providing a controlled environment for air-to-air combat simulation, rocketry, and bombing exercises that prepared pilots for high-threat scenarios, with the first F-100 Super Sabre assigned in August 1954.^[26]

Cold War Nuclear and Testing Role

The Nevada Test Site (NTS), situated within the expansive area now designated as the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), was selected in December 1950 by President Harry S. Truman for continental nuclear weapons testing, marking a shift from Pacific atolls to a domestic facility to accelerate warhead development amid escalating Cold War tensions with the Soviet Union.^[18] Operations commenced on January 27, 1951, with the detonation of "Able," a 1-kiloton device air-dropped as part of Operation Ranger, initiating a series of tests to validate implosion designs, assess yields, and evaluate effects on military hardware and personnel.^[25] Between 1951 and 1963, prior to the Partial Test Ban Treaty, 100 atmospheric detonations occurred at the NTS, including tower shots, balloon suspensions, and aerial drops, with yields ranging from sub-kiloton to megaton-scale, such as the 74-kiloton "Hood" device in Operation Teapot (1955).^[27] These tests, conducted under the Atomic Energy Commission (AEC) in coordination with the Department of Defense, enabled rapid iteration on thermonuclear weapons, plutonium pits, and fission triggers essential for maintaining U.S. nuclear superiority.^[18] Key series like Operation Buster-Jangle (1951) featured the first U.S. nuclear field exercise with live troops, detonating "Easy" at 31 kilotons to study ground burst effects on infantry maneuvers, while Operation Upshot-Knothole (1953) included "Grable," the only nuclear artillery shell test at 15 kilotons, fired from a 280mm cannon to simulate tactical battlefield use.^[25] Operation Plumbbob (1957) encompassed 29 explosions, including the 74-kiloton "Hood" tower shot—the largest at the site—and safety experiments like "Pascal B," which accidentally released plutonium due to a containment breach, highlighting risks in handling high-explosive assemblies under field conditions.^[28] Integrated with Nellis Air Force Base's bombing and gunnery ranges, these efforts supported Air Force validation of delivery platforms, from B-29 Superfortresses to early jet bombers, ensuring reliable aerial deployment amid concerns over Soviet ICBM advances.^[29] The NTS's isolation within the vast NTTR precursor lands—spanning over 1,350 square miles for the NTS alone—facilitated unrestricted effects testing, including electromagnetic pulse studies and cratering experiments like Operation Plowshare's "Sedan" (1962, 104 kilotons), aimed at civilian applications but underscoring nuclear excavation potential for military logistics.^[29] Following the 1963 treaty, testing shifted underground, with 828 sub-surface detonations through 1992, tunneling into Yucca Mountain and other basins to contain fallout while certifying warhead reliability without full-yield surface blasts.^[28] Yields varied from millitons for hydrodynamic simulations to the 1.1-megaton "Boxcar" (1968), focusing on stockpile confidence, arms control verification, and joint U.S.-U.K. collaborations under the 1958 Mutual Defense Agreement.^[30] This phase sustained the U.S. deterrent by refining second-strike capabilities and countering Soviet testing at Semipalatinsk and Novaya Zemlya, with the NTTR's airspace enabling overflight simulations for bomber evasion tactics.^[18] Overall, the site's 928 total tests—averaging over 20 annually during peak years—directly contributed to the maturation of the Minuteman, Polaris, and Poseidon systems, underpinning deterrence strategy until the Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty's indefinite moratorium in 1992.^[31] Empirical data from these experiments, including seismic monitoring and radiochemical analysis, provided foundational validation for computational models that persist in modern stockpile stewardship, free of institutional biases toward understating containment failures or overemphasizing safety as later critiqued in declassified AEC reports.^[28]

Reorganization and Modern Designations

The 98th Range Wing was redesignated from prior strategic units and activated on October 29, 2001, at Nellis Air Force Base to centralize management of the expansive test and training areas previously overseen by dispersed commands.^[1] This reorganization consolidated operational control over approximately 2.9 million acres of restricted federal land withdrawn for military use, enabling more efficient coordination of air and ground space for tactics development and weapons evaluation.^[1]^[32] The wing's activation addressed post-Cold War needs for dedicated range oversight, distinct from nuclear-focused entities like the adjacent Nevada National Security Site managed by the Department of Energy.^[1] On June 21, 2011, the 98th Range Wing was redesignated as the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), aligning the unit's name directly with the geographic and functional designation of the battlespace it administers.^[1]^[33] This change, formalized in a ceremony at Nellis Air Force Base, emphasized the NTTR's role as the Air Force's premier contiguous training and testing venue, supporting exercises like Red Flag and integration with interagency partners.^[33]^[1] Under modern designations, the NTTR operates as a host unit assigned to the United States Air Force Warfare Center within Air Combat Command, comprising nine directorates—including Operations, Mission Support, and Engineering—and the 25th Space Range Squadron for advanced combat training.^[1] This structure facilitates multidimensional battlespace provision for Department of Defense priorities, with the range itself designated as a restricted military reservation encompassing diverse terrain for realistic simulations.^[1]^[5]

Military Operations and Capabilities

Training and Testing Activities

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) serves as the primary venue for advanced aerial combat training and operational testing for the United States Air Force, encompassing a 12,000-square-nautical-mile battlespace that enables realistic simulation of wartime conditions.^[1] Activities include aircrew proficiency training, tactics development, and full-spectrum research, development, test, and evaluation (RDT&E) for aircraft systems.^[34] More than 75 percent of all live munitions expended by the Air Force in training occur on the NTTR, supporting weapons delivery accuracy and effectiveness assessments from altitudes as low as 100 feet.^[35] Large-scale exercises such as Red Flag, conducted multiple times annually, involve joint and multinational forces in contested combat scenarios, integrating air-to-air and air-to-ground operations to enhance interoperability and mission rehearsal.^[36]^[37] These maneuvers feature force-on-force engagements, electronic warfare simulations, and munitions testing, drawing participants from allied air forces to replicate peer-level threats.^[3] The range's instrumentation allows for precise data collection on performance metrics, informing doctrinal refinements and system improvements.^[38] Testing activities extend to advanced weapon systems validation, including precision-guided munitions and emerging technologies, within a controlled environment that minimizes risks to personnel and infrastructure.^[17] Ground-based elements support integrated training, such as close air support missions coordinated with simulated or live ground forces, fostering multi-domain operational proficiency.^[39] Overall, these operations ensure aircrews achieve combat readiness by providing a multidimensional, instrumented arena unmatched in scale and fidelity for peacetime preparation.^[38]

Key Facilities and Infrastructure

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) spans 2.9 million acres of land and approximately 12,000 square nautical miles of airspace, comprising 5,000 square miles of restricted airspace and 7,000 square miles of military operating areas dedicated to peacetime military activities.^[1] This extensive infrastructure supports operational testing, tactics development, and combat training for U.S. Air Force units.^[1] Central to the NTTR's capabilities are its bombing, gunnery, and electronic combat ranges, which include over 1,200 targets simulating diverse threats such as mock airfields complete with aircraft squadrons, refueling trucks, maintenance shelters, vehicle convoys, tanks, parked aircraft, bunkered defensive positions, and surface-to-air missile sites.^[38]^[7]^[36] Specialized electronic combat ranges, including Point Bravo, Tolicha Peak, and Tonopah, enable advanced simulations of integrated air defense systems.^[1] Support infrastructure consists of three operations and maintenance compounds for target upkeep and instrumentation, along with four remote communication sites for range coordination and data relay.^[1] The Threat Training Facility maintains collections of adversary weapons systems and aircraft mockups to facilitate realistic close-air support and threat replication training.^[40] Auxiliary facilities such as Tonopah Test Range Airfield and integration with Creech Air Force Base extend operational reach.^[1] Instrumentation assets, including electronic scoring sites and data acquisition systems operated by the 99th Range Group, provide real-time evaluation of training exercises, while also supporting external activities like Green Flag-West at the National Training Center.^[41]^[1] These elements collectively ensure the NTTR functions as a Major Range and Test Facility Base for Department of Defense test and evaluation needs.^[4]

Technological and Weapon Systems Development

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) serves as a critical hub for the development and testing of advanced weapon systems and technologies, designated as a Major Range Test Facility Base (MRTFB) under the Department of Defense.^[1] This status enables support for research, development, and operational testing across air, ground, and electronic domains, including tactics development and integration of live-virtual-constructive environments to evaluate emerging capabilities.^[1] The range's expansive 12,000 square nautical miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land provide realistic conditions for assessing weapon accuracy, electronic warfare resilience, and system interoperability without external interference.^[1] Groom Lake, known as Area 51 and situated within the NTTR, has been instrumental in classified aircraft development since the mid-20th century.^[42] Initial flight tests of the Lockheed U-2 high-altitude reconnaissance aircraft began there on August 4, 1955, following an accidental liftoff during ground taxiing on August 1.^[43] This facility later hosted the first flight of the CIA's A-12 OXCART Mach 3+ spy plane on April 25, 1962, with operational prototypes arriving through 1964 for further refinement in speed, altitude, and stealth features.^[43] By 1965, the program had advanced to deployment readiness, demonstrating the site's role in rapid prototyping of high-performance reconnaissance platforms.^[43] Stealth technology advancements were pioneered at Groom Lake during the 1970s and 1980s, with the Lockheed F-117 Nighthawk achieving its maiden flight on June 18, 1981.^[42] This angular-designed attack aircraft incorporated radar-absorbent materials and faceted geometry to minimize radar cross-section, marking a paradigm shift in low-observability tactics.^[42] Initial testing focused on proof-of-concept for stealth principles, transitioning to operational evaluations that informed subsequent platforms like the B-2 Spirit bomber.^[42] The NTTR's secure airspace facilitated adversary aircraft evaluations, including Soviet MiG-21 and MiG-23 fighters acquired in the 1970s, to benchmark U.S. systems in dissimilar air combat scenarios.^[42] Beyond aircraft, NTTR infrastructure supports precision-guided munitions and electronic combat systems testing through instrumented ranges and target arrays.^[1] These assets enable data collection on weapon lethality, guidance accuracy, and countermeasures effectiveness, contributing to iterative improvements in air-to-ground and air-to-air ordnance.^[1] Ongoing missions include developmental testing for next-generation sensors and hypersonic technologies, ensuring alignment with evolving threats while maintaining operational secrecy.^[1]

Strategic and National Security Role

Contributions to Air Force Readiness

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) bolsters United States Air Force readiness by offering a expansive 12,000-square-nautical-mile battlespace for operational testing and aircrew training that replicates real-world combat scenarios, thereby enhancing combat proficiency and survivability rates.^[16] This infrastructure supports tactics development, advanced combat maneuvers, and multidimensional exercises, enabling forces to refine strategies against peer adversaries in a controlled yet realistic environment.^[3] Central to these efforts are flagship exercises like Red Flag, orchestrated by the 414th Combat Training Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, which simulate high-intensity air warfare by pitting "Blue" forces against aggressor "Red" teams in multiple sorties designed to mimic the first ten combat missions for new pilots.^[36] Initiated in 1975, Red Flag has evolved into a cornerstone of Air Force preparation, with its 50th anniversary marked in 2025, consistently adapting to emerging threats to maintain warfighter edge through joint and multinational participation.^[44] Complementary programs such as Green Flag integrate ground-air coordination, further amplifying integrated combat readiness across services.^[45] The NTTR's unique scale as the largest contiguous peacetime military operational area facilitates over 75 percent of the Air Force's live munitions training drops, from low-altitude precision strikes to high-volume ordnance delivery, ensuring crews achieve live-fire expertise critical for mission success.^[46] This emphasis on realistic threat emulation and resource-intensive drills directly correlates with improved operational outcomes, as evidenced by historical reductions in simulated loss ratios post-training, positioning the range as indispensable for sustaining deterrence and rapid response capabilities.^[47]

Support for Advanced Warfare Simulation

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) facilitates advanced warfare simulation by integrating live, virtual, and constructive training paradigms, leveraging its 2.9 million acres of instrumented airspace to replicate multidimensional battlespaces for tactics development and electronic combat testing.^[1] This infrastructure supports the U.S. Air Force's composite force exercises, such as Red Flag, by providing data feeds and threat emulation that feed into synthetic environments, enabling cost-effective rehearsal of high-threat scenarios without full live-fly commitments.^[3] Under NTTR oversight, the 31st Combat Training Squadron manages the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center-Nellis (JITTC-N), activated on April 9, 2021, which delivers immersive, high-fidelity simulations for multi-domain operations across air, space, cyber, and electromagnetic spectrum domains.^[48] JITTC-N's modeling capabilities allow rapid integration of fourth-, fifth-, and next-generation platforms, permitting aircrews to test adaptive tactics against evolving adversary integrated air defense systems in a controlled synthetic battlespace.^[48] These tools optimize warfighting proficiency by simulating realistic threat command/control operations, drawing on NTTR's physical range data for validation.^[1] The Joint Simulation Environment (JSE), operational at Nellis Air Force Base and aligned with NTTR missions, employs hyper-realistic digital cockpits with 360-degree 4K projectors to model environmental factors like weather, electromagnetic interference, adversary aircraft behaviors, and ordnance effects—including the AIM-9 Sidewinder missile and Small Diameter Bomb.^[49] Core JSE software was installed by 2023, incorporating enemy air systems, with F-35 and F-22 integration enabling full-mission rehearsals starting in 2024; this supports over 1,000 pilots trained in joint curricula for weapons schools like TOPGUN and the 6th Weapons Squadron.^[49] JSE's capacity for up to 20 simulators fosters multi-platform, peer-competitive training against simulated Russian or Chinese threats, reducing wear on physical assets while enhancing decision-making in contested environments.^[50] NTTR's simulation support extends to live-virtual-constructive fusion, where range instrumentation collects empirical data to refine models, ensuring simulations mirror real-world physics and countermeasures for credible preparation against advanced adversaries.^[51] This approach, including the Virtual Test and Training Center's networked airspace integration, accelerates innovation in command-and-control workflows and uncrewed systems testing, directly bolstering Air Force deterrence.^[52]

Broader Defense and Deterrence Impacts

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) underpins U.S. defense and deterrence strategies by delivering a vast, instrumented battlespace that enables the development of superior warfighting capabilities, particularly in air power dominance essential for denying adversaries territorial gains and imposing costs on aggression.^[1] This 2.9 million-acre complex, combined with 12,000 square nautical miles of airspace, constitutes the largest contiguous peacetime military training area globally, allowing for high-fidelity replication of peer-level threats in multi-domain operations.^[1] Such realism fosters tactical innovation and force integration, directly enhancing the credibility of U.S. extended deterrence by ensuring rapid, decisive responses to potential conflicts.^[39] NTTR's role extends to testing and validation of advanced systems, including directed energy weapons and hypersonic platforms, which sustain technological overmatch against evolving threats from nations like China and Russia. By hosting premier exercises such as Red Flag and the U.S. Air Force Weapons School, the range trains pilots and operators in complex scenarios, where over 75 percent of Air Force live munitions expenditures occur, sharpening lethality and reducing operational risks in real contingencies.^[53] These activities not only build combat proficiency but also signal resolve and capability to adversaries, reinforcing deterrence through demonstrated proficiency in integrated air-ground-space operations.^[51] In broader national security terms, NTTR supports joint and coalition training that aligns with integrated deterrence concepts, enabling seamless interoperability with allies to counter coercion in regions like the Indo-Pacific.^[1] Its contributions mitigate capability gaps by providing data-driven insights into enemy tactics, thereby informing doctrine and procurement decisions that preserve U.S. strategic advantages.^[39] Ultimately, the range's sustained operations ensure that U.S. forces maintain a persistent edge, deterring escalation by making aggression prohibitively costly through assured victory in aerial and combined arms engagements.^[1]

Controversies and Challenges

Environmental and Ecological Debates

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), encompassing approximately 2.9 million acres of arid desert terrain, has faced scrutiny over its environmental footprint stemming from historical nuclear testing and ongoing military activities. Between 1951 and 1992, over 900 nuclear detonations occurred at the adjacent Nevada National Security Site (NNSS), which overlaps with portions of the NTTR, depositing radioactive contaminants such as plutonium, americium, and tritium into surface soils at more than 100 locations. These legacy residues pose long-term risks to groundwater and biota, though natural aridity and low precipitation limit widespread migration, with monitoring indicating containment within localized hotspots as of 2021.^[54] Current conventional weapons testing and training, including live-fire exercises and depleted uranium target practice, have raised concerns about soil erosion, heavy metal accumulation, and potential aquifer pollution, prompting the U.S. Air Force's Environmental Restoration Program to investigate and remediate USAF-attributable sites under federal mandates.^[55] Ecological debates center on impacts to native Mojave Desert species, particularly endangered or threatened wildlife. The Mojave desert tortoise (Gopherus agassizii), a federally listed species, inhabits NTTR fringes, with Air Force surveys since the 1990s documenting populations and implementing relocation protocols during infrastructure projects to avoid incidental mortality from vehicle traffic or construction. Critics, including conservation advocates, contend that military expansion proposals could fragment tortoise habitat connectivity across the range's southern boundaries, exacerbating isolation from adjacent populations in the Desert National Wildlife Refuge, though Air Force environmental assessments assert that protocol-level surveys and habitat modeling demonstrate negligible population-level effects.^[56] Noise from supersonic flights and artillery has been linked to behavioral disruptions in wildlife, such as altered foraging in birds and mammals, while ordnance-induced wildland fires threaten creosote bush scrub and riparian zones critical for over 250 bird species and desert bighorn sheep. Proponents of NTTR operations highlight integrated natural resources management plans that have sustained biodiversity, with camera traps and ecological monitoring revealing active use of range features by species like kit foxes and burrowing owls, countering narratives of wholesale habitat degradation.^[57] Water resource debates focus on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) contamination from aqueous film-forming foam used in firefighting training at Nellis Air Force Base, which borders the NTTR. Testing in 2023-2024 detected elevated PFAS levels in base water supplies exceeding EPA health advisories, prompting remediation efforts under the National Defense Authorization Act, though off-range groundwater recharge remains minimal due to the region's endorheic basins.^[58] Environmental impact statements for range expansions, such as the 2016 Legislative EIS, evaluate cumulative effects on aquifers but conclude no significant impairment to regional water quality from operational discharges, attributing most risks to historical rather than active use.^[59] Opposition from groups like the Sierra Club emphasizes potential bioaccumulation in food webs, arguing that restricted public access hinders independent verification, while Air Force data from annual site reports underscore compliance with Clean Water Act standards and proactive sump monitoring to prevent off-site transport.^[60] These tensions reflect broader conflicts between national security imperatives and ecological preservation, with mitigation measures like prescribed burns and invasive species control demonstrating adaptive management amid verifiable but contained impacts.^[14]

Public Perception and Access Restrictions

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) is closed to unauthorized public entry, spanning 2.9 million acres of land under U.S. Air Force control, with public access withdrawn by federal statute since the 1950s to support military operations.^[41] ^[61] Limited exceptions exist for activities like grazing leases in peripheral areas, but core zones including bombing ranges and testing facilities prohibit all civilian intrusion, enforced by armed security patrols, motion sensors, and aerial surveillance.^[1] ^[62] Intruders risk arrest, fines exceeding $1,000, or imprisonment under federal law, with warnings of deadly force authorized for perimeter breaches.^[63] Airspace over the NTTR covers approximately 5,000 square miles of restricted zones, expanded by another 7,000 square miles for military operations, barring civilian aircraft overflights without prior authorization from Nellis Air Force Base controllers.^[1] ^[64] The Federal Aviation Administration designates these as special use airspace, with violations subject to interception by fighter jets or civil penalties up to $25,000 per incident.^[65] Public perception of the NTTR is shaped by its association with highly classified programs at sites like Area 51 (Groom Lake), fostering persistent myths of extraterrestrial research despite official disclosures attributing anomalous sightings to experimental aircraft such as the U-2 reconnaissance plane and F-117 Nighthawk stealth fighter, which produced unusual visual effects during high-altitude and low-observability tests from the 1950s onward.^[66] Declassified documents confirm that over half of UFO reports in the U.S. during the 1950s-1960s stemmed from such NTTR flights, not otherworldly origins, though sensationalized media coverage has amplified unverified claims like those of Robert Lazar in 1989 alleging alien technology reverse-engineering—claims lacking corroborating evidence or peer-reviewed support. Mainstream outlets, often critiqued for prioritizing narrative over empirical scrutiny, have perpetuated these stories, contributing to a cultural view of the range as a hub of government concealment beyond routine defense R&D.^[64] The 2019 "Storm Area 51" Facebook event, initiated as a meme and attracting over 2 million "going" responses, exemplified this intrigue, drawing around 1,500-3,000 participants to public viewpoints near Rachel, Nevada, on September 20, but resulting in no restricted area entries; instead, it spurred informal gatherings and a subsequent "Alienstock" festival, highlighting tourism driven by lore rather than substantive challenges to security.^[63] Air Force officials reiterated access prohibitions, with base commander Terrence Clark stating in advance that trespassers would face lethal response if necessary, reflecting institutional commitment to operational integrity amid public curiosity.^[63] Overall, while the NTTR's opacity sustains speculative interest, empirical records underscore its role in verifiable military advancements, not clandestine non-human activities.

Expansion Proposals and Political Opposition

The United States Air Force proposed expanding the Nevada Test and Training Range by withdrawing an additional 301,507 acres, primarily from the adjacent Desert National Wildlife Refuge, to support training with advanced weapons systems and enhance airspace integration for multi-domain operations.^[67]^[68] This initiative, formally advanced through legislative environmental impact statements starting around 2016, sought to address capacity constraints in the existing 2.9 million-acre range amid increasing demands for realistic combat simulations against peer adversaries.^[69]^[70] The expansion encountered widespread political resistance from environmental organizations, Native American tribes such as the Moapa Band of Paiutes, hunting and ranching interests, and Nevada state officials, who argued it would fragment critical habitat for species like the desert bighorn sheep and curtail public access to over 75% of the refuge for activities including hunting and mineral exploration.^[71]^[72]^[73] In 2019, the Nevada Legislature approved bipartisan resolutions—Assembly Joint Resolution 6 and Senate Joint Resolution 8—explicitly opposing the takeover of refuge lands, reflecting concerns that military control would prioritize ordnance impacts over ecological preservation without adequate mitigation.^[74]^[75] Federal lawmakers, including Nevada's Democratic congressional delegation—Representatives Dina Titus, Steven Horsford, and Susie Lee—along with Governor Steve Sisolak, lobbied against inclusion of the expansion in defense authorization bills, leading Congress to strip it from the Fiscal Year 2021 National Defense Authorization Act in December 2020 after a multi-year campaign involving tribal consultations and public input.^[71]^[76]^[77] Critics, including groups like the Center for Biological Diversity, contended that the Air Force's environmental assessments understated long-term contamination risks from unexploded ordnance, despite the service's assertions of enhanced safety protocols.^[78] Subsequent efforts have focused on compromises, such as Senator Catherine Cortez Masto's 2023 Nevada National Security and Conservation Act, which proposed authorizing limited Air Force infrastructure upgrades in exchange for designating 500,000 acres of new protected habitat within the Mojave Desert ecosystem.^[79] Smaller operational expansions, like a 2021 road extension from Range 63C to Box Canyon for improved access to training targets, advanced via environmental assessments finding no significant impacts after public review.^[80] By August 2024, the Air Force shifted to requesting a 20-year extension of the baseline land withdrawal through 2044, omitting the disputed refuge acreage amid ongoing stakeholder negotiations.^[81]

Personnel Health and Safety Concerns

Personnel at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) have faced health risks primarily from residual radiation and toxins stemming from historical nuclear testing activities conducted at the adjacent Nevada Test Site (now Nevada National Security Site), as well as from modern training operations involving munitions and chemicals. Over 900 nuclear detonations occurred between 1951 and 1992, dispersing radioactive fallout that affected military observers, support staff, and later trainees in the region, with veterans reporting elevated incidences of cancers and other illnesses attributed to such exposures. Legislative efforts, including the PROTECT Act reintroduced in February 2025, seek to provide comprehensive medical care for veterans exposed to radiation and toxins during NTTR service, recognizing daily toxic exposures as inherent to duties there. Similarly, a July 2025 bill by Senators Jacky Rosen and Catherine Cortez Masto proposes presumptive exposure status for Department of Defense employees serving at NTTR post-1980, aiming to facilitate benefits for radiation-related conditions.^[82]^[83] Veterans who served at NTTR over the past five decades have linked their health issues—such as various cancers—to environmental contamination from nuclear fallout and unexploded ordnance, prompting advocacy for expanded compensation under frameworks like the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act. A Senate defense authorization bill passed in October 2025 acknowledged nuclear contamination's role in contributing to medical diagnoses among exposed personnel, highlighting toxins from tests as a factor in illnesses. Documented cases include veterans developing life-threatening conditions after assignments involving proximity to irradiated sites, with groups like The Invisible Enemy documenting personal accounts of radiation-linked complications. While epidemiological studies on NTTR-specific cohorts remain limited, broader DOE occupational radiation reports indicate managed but persistent low-level exposures for site workers, with calls for screening programs like the Nevada Test Site Building Trades Medical Screening to address potential long-term effects.^[84]^[85]^[86] Acute safety concerns arise from high-risk training exercises, including aircraft mishaps and live-fire incidents. Notable fatalities include Lt. Col. Eric Schultz, who died on September 5, 2017, from injuries in a classified aircraft crash during a training sortie at NTTR. Another incident on April 4, 2018, resulted in the death of U.S. Air Force Capt. Erik Gonsalves, a Thunderbird pilot, when his F-16 crashed during a training mission near Nellis Air Force Base's range complex. Mid-air collisions, such as the July 2018 A-10C Thunderbolt II incident involving two aircraft from the 355th Wing, caused minor injuries to pilots but underscored ejection and recovery risks in remote terrain. These events reflect ongoing hazards from advanced aerial combat simulations, with investigations often citing factors like spatial disorientation or mechanical issues, though comprehensive injury data for ground personnel remains classified or underreported.^[87]^[88]^[89]

Recent Developments and Future Outlook

Modernization Initiatives Post-2020

Following the 2020 National Defense Strategy's emphasis on great power competition, the U.S. Air Force has pursued targeted modernization of the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) to enhance threat replication, simulation capabilities, and support infrastructure for advanced air combat training. These initiatives include upgrades to primary training ranges for near-peer adversary environments and integration of digital synthetic training to augment physical range operations.^[90] A key virtual modernization effort is the Digital Test and Training Range (DTTR), a 50,000-square-foot facility at Nellis Air Force Base completed with a ribbon-cutting on May 16, 2024. The $29 million project, with contracts awarded in 2020, supports developmental testing and evaluations for 5th- and 6th-generation aircraft platforms in a reconfigurable Joint Simulation Environment (JSE), enabling high-fidelity joint operations simulation that complements NTTR's live training battlespace.^[91]^[92] Physical infrastructure enhancements include the proposed Northern Hub development at the Tolicha Peak Electronic Combat Range within NTTR, detailed in a May 2025 draft Environmental Assessment. This involves drilling a new 1,100-foot-deep well with 2.4 million gallons annual capacity, three 50,000-gallon storage tanks, arsenic filtration and UV disinfection systems, and a 0.9-mile access roadway with underground utilities, aimed at providing redundant water supply for operations and maintenance amid capacity constraints in the existing system. Construction is slated to begin in 2026 in four phases, ensuring sustained support for electronic combat training without exceeding aquifer limits.^[93] Complementing these, the Combat Support Training Range (CSTR) at Nellis Area II, proposed in a July 2025 Final Environmental Assessment, addresses a 2020 Air Force Civil Engineer Center directive for regional sites by constructing 146,150 square feet of facilities, including a 3,000-foot mock airfield, driving courses, and logistics areas across 205 acres. Phased construction from 2025 to 2027 will support civil engineer readiness under the Air Force Force Generation model, filling NTTR-adjacent capacity gaps for up to 750 personnel in events lasting 1-12 days annually.^[94] Broader range upgrades, funded through fiscal year 2021 and beyond, prioritize NTTR enhancements to Level 4 threat replication, incorporating advanced emitters and targets to simulate legacy and integrated air defense systems of peer adversaries, with completion targeted by fiscal year 2032.^[95]

Legislative Actions and Expansions

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) land withdrawals originated through a series of executive actions and congressional authorizations, with major legislative consolidation occurring via the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999, enacted as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000 (Public Law 106-65). This act reserved approximately 3.1 million acres of federal land in southern Nevada from public use for exclusive military purposes under the U.S. Air Force, supporting testing, training, and evaluation activities at Nellis Air Force Base. The withdrawal, which superseded earlier extensions such as Public Land Order 2613 in 1962 and a 1986 congressional extension under Public Law 99-411, was initially set for a 20-year term expiring in 2019, requiring periodic renewal by Congress per the Engle Act of 1958 (Public Law 85-337), which mandates legislative approval for withdrawals exceeding 5,000 acres. In 2021, Congress renewed the NTTR withdrawal without territorial expansion through the William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021 (Public Law 116-283), extending the reservation for an additional 25 years to November 2046 while affirming the Air Force's continued need for the land to maintain combat readiness amid growing threats.^[96] This renewal followed a Legislative Environmental Impact Statement process mandated by the National Environmental Policy Act, focusing on sustaining existing operations rather than new acquisitions. Concurrently, efforts to clarify operational authorities led to H.R. 6070 in the 118th Congress (2023-2024), which amended the 1999 act to explicitly authorize a broader range of military activities, including live-fire exercises and unmanned systems testing, addressing ambiguities that had constrained range utilization; the bill advanced through committee review in December 2024.^[97] Proposed expansions have faced significant legislative hurdles, exemplified by the Air Force's 2019 initiative to add 301,507 acres—primarily from the adjacent Desert National Wildlife Refuge—to buffer against urban encroachment and enhance training realism.^[67] This plan, outlined in a draft Legislative EIS, sought congressional approval via the FY2021 NDAA but was rejected amid opposition from conservation groups citing habitat disruption for bighorn sheep and other species, as well as concerns over public land access.^[71] A compromise bill introduced by Nevada's congressional delegation in December 2019 aimed to modernize NTTR infrastructure on existing lands while protecting the refuge, but the expansion component was ultimately excluded from final legislation, preserving the status quo.^[98] These rejections highlight congressional balancing of military imperatives against environmental and local interests, with no net acreage increase since the 1999 baseline.^[76]

Ongoing Operational Enhancements

In 2021, the U.S. Air Force designated Nellis Air Force Base, which oversees the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), as the service's fifth-generation center of excellence, prompting proposals for infrastructure upgrades to the range to accommodate advanced training requirements for stealth aircraft and integrated systems.^[99] These enhancements aim to expand realistic combat simulations, including improved ground-based threat emitters and instrumentation for evaluating fifth-generation fighter performance against peer adversaries.^[99] A key logistical improvement involves the 2021 expansion of Stagecoach Road within the NTTR, designed to facilitate faster and more efficient movement of personnel, vehicles, and munitions across remote sectors, thereby reducing operational delays and manpower inefficiencies associated with rough terrain. This project, covering approximately 10 miles of upgraded roadway, supports high-tempo exercises by minimizing transit times for ground support units during large-scale joint training events. More recently, in May 2025, the Air Force issued a draft environmental assessment for constructing a new groundwater well and associated water treatment facility on the NTTR to address increasing demands from expanded training activities and sustainment operations.^[93] The facility, projected to produce up to 500 gallons per minute of treated water, will support firefighting, dust suppression, and personnel needs in arid training zones, enhancing overall range sustainability without relying on external supplies.^[93] Parallel efforts include the July 2025 final environmental assessment for the Combat Support Training Range (CSTR) on the NTTR, which introduces modular targets and simulated urban environments to replicate expeditionary combat support scenarios, enabling units to practice rapid deployment and logistics under fire.^[94] These additions, incorporating over 75% of the Air Force's live munitions expenditure for training, integrate advanced sensors for real-time data collection to refine tactics against evolving threats.^[100]^[94]

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[76]
A multi-year campaign convinced Congress to reject two military ...
Dec 17, 2020 · In both cases, a broad group of tribal leaders, environmentalists, ranchers, hunters and miners voiced opposition to the proposed expansions, ...
[77]
Nevada Democrats aim to block Nellis bombing range expansion
Jul 11, 2020 · The lawmakers want the House Rules Committee to strike an amendment from a national defense spending bill that would enable the expansion of ...
[78]
House Democrats Set to Give 850,000 Acres of Nevada Wildlife ...
Jul 1, 2020 · The Air Force has been seeking to expand its Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) bombing range for several years, proposing to take over 1.1 ...
[79]
Cortez Masto proposes conservation compromise on Air Force ...
Oct 25, 2023 · Cortez Masto's legislation lays out a path for the Air Force's requested expansion of its technology and footprint in southeastern Nevada's DNWR ...
[80]
[PDF] Nevada Test and Training Range Expansion of Stagecoach Road in ...
Mar 9, 2021 · The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) proposes to expand or construct a road in the South Range from Range 63C Complex to the Box Canyon ...
[81]
BLM opens comment opportunity for withdrawal extension at ...
Aug 15, 2024 · The United States Air Force (USAF) has requested a 20-year extension of a BLM public lands withdrawal at the Nevada Test and Training Range ( ...<|separator|>
[82]
Amodei Reintroduces the PROTECT Act
Feb 19, 2025 · This legislation would ensure comprehensive medical care to veterans exposed to radiation and other toxins at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR).
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Bill Would Aid Vets Exposed to Radiation, Toxins at Nevada Range
Aug 6, 2025 · An Air Force veteran wants Congress to smooth the path to disability compensation for troops who worked at the Nevada Test and Training ...
[84]
Veterans suffering health issues seek compensation - KSJD
May 7, 2024 · Veterans who served at the Nevada Test and Training Range over the past 50 years are experiencing health issues that many of them attribute to exposure to ...Missing: safety | Show results with:safety
[85]
Senate defense bill recognizes nuclear contamination in Nevada ...
Oct 10, 2025 · Formerly known as the Nellis Air Force Range, the NTTR covers 2.9 million acres of land and 5,000 square miles of airspace for military ...
[86]
Veteran telling the story of hidden health risks at Nevada Test Site
Jan 5, 2025 · He discovered the common thread between all these medical complications was exposure to radiation while working at the Nevada Test and Training ...Missing: safety | Show results with:safety<|separator|>
[87]
Nevada Test and Training Range Accident - Nellis Air Force Base
Sep 8, 2017 · Lt Col Eric Schultz died as a result of injuries sustained in the accident. Our immediate concern is for the family of Lt Col Schultz. The cause ...Missing: personnel | Show results with:personnel
[88]
Thunderbird Pilot Killed in Crash at Nevada Test and Training Range
Apr 5, 2018 · One of their pilots died in the crash of an F-16 over the Nevada Test and Training Range near Nellis AFB outside Las Vegas, Nevada.
[89]
Report on Nellis A-10C collision
Jul 19, 2018 · They suffered minor injuries during the ejection and parachute landing, and were rapidly located by military search and rescue forces. Both MA1 ...
[90]
[PDF] Replicating Threats in Operational Test and Training Infrastructure
Upgrades to synthetic training to provide high-fidelity, joint integrated training, such as the Joint Integrated Training Center (JITC) concept, are also being ...
[91]
Leaders celebrate virtual training facility completion at Nellis - Army.mil
Jun 14, 2024 · “The Digital Test and Training Range, or DTTR, is specifically designed to meet the unique and complex needs of the Joint Simulation Environment ...Missing: post- | Show results with:post-
[92]
Digital Test and Training Range Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony
May 10, 2023 · The DTTR represents a robust digital synthetic environment for developing 5th and 6th Gen platforms and their advanced weapon systems.
[93]
None
Below is a merged summary of the proposed development for the Northern Hub at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), consolidating all information from the provided segments into a comprehensive response. To maximize detail and clarity, I’ve organized key information into tables where appropriate, followed by a narrative summary that integrates additional details not suited for tabular format.
[94]
None
Below is a merged summary of the proposed actions for the Combat Support Training Range (CSTR) at Nellis AFB, consolidating all information from the provided segments into a single, detailed response. To maximize density and clarity, I’ve organized key details into tables where appropriate, while retaining narrative sections for context and qualitative information.
[95]
Fighter squadron moves, range upgrades critical to ready pilots for ...
Feb 11, 2021 · The average range upgrade, not including the two prioritized ranges, equals $165 million, nearly the average cost of restationing a squadron, ...
[96]
[PDF] Report - NTTR IEC
Dec 18, 2024 · The William M. Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY. 2021 (Pub. L. 116-283) renewed the Military Lands Withdrawal Act ( ...
[97]
TO AMEND THE MILITARY LANDS WITHDRAWAL ACT OF 1999 ...
The purpose of HR 6070 is to amend the Military Lands Withdrawal Act of 1999 to clarify the authority of the Department of Defense to conduct certain military ...
[98]
Nevada Delegation Announces Introduction of Compromise ...
Nevada Delegation Announces Introduction of Compromise Legislation to Protect DNWR & Modernize NTTR on Existing Lands. December 20, 2019.
[99]
Nellis AFB to become 5th Generation Center of Excellence
Jun 30, 2021 · The Air Force is also proposing improvements to the Nevada Test and Training Range to further support the infrastructure required for current ...
[100]
High-End Training - Nellis Air Force Base
Jul 11, 2025 · More than 75 percent of all live munitions used by the Air Force for training are dropped on the Nevada Test and Training Range. From 100 feet ...Missing: ongoing | Show results with:ongoing