Pentagon’s Mega-Project to Boost Air Force Training in Alaska

Work is set to begin this summer on a massive Pentagon project in Alaska, aimed at enhancing the Air Force’s training capabilities to defend North America. The Joint Integrated Test and Training Center, located at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Anchorage, will span 150,000 square feet and house 426 computer servers powered by a 15 million megavolt-ampere electric substation. With a completion date targeted for 2029, the project carries an estimated cost of up to $500 million.

John Budnik, a spokesman for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, highlighted that the center will synchronize land personnel with pilots in the air and will be the only facility in the Indo-Pacific Command capable of hosting multi-domain simulators for various military aircraft, including F-35s, F-22s, and long-range weaponry. Thareth Casey, the program manager, noted that the design accommodates weapons and aircraft from different branches of the U.S. military and NATO allies.

Air Force Col. Lisa Mabbutt emphasized Alaska’s strategic importance as a power-projection platform for Homeland defense. Despite the region’s extreme winter conditions, construction will utilize insulated, reinforced materials to mitigate environmental impact. The timeline for construction will hinge on Alaska’s seasonal variations, accelerating during the extended summer days.

While training will focus on threats posed by Russia and China, specific details remain undisclosed. Political and military leaders have defined these nations as “near-peer adversaries,” as they escalate military capabilities that challenge U.S. dominance. Experts like Katherine Dahlstrand assert that establishing this training center is an essential investment for the U.S. to secure its interests in the rapidly evolving Arctic region.

Source
Photo credit www.adn.com