Construction is officially underway on one of the most advanced training facilities ever built in Alaska. The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers broke ground Monday on the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center (JITTC) at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), a project aimed at strengthening U.S. and allied readiness against emerging global threats.
“This center will help us stay ahead by allowing our forces to train and test strategies in a realistic environment,” said Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham, commander of the 11th Air Force at JBER.
The facility is designed to provide a cutting-edge training environment across multiple domains—land, air, sea, space, and cyber. Equipped with mock cockpits and reconfigurable workstations, the center will allow different team setups involving U.S. and allied armed forces. The Pentagon says the JITTC will give units the ability to prepare for “night one” of an enemy attack, ensuring readiness from the first moments of conflict.
“This facility will allow our airmen, soldiers, and allied partners to train together more effectively, simulating complex combat scenarios with modern technology,” Cunningham added. “Alaska’s location and training areas make JBER the perfect place for this project. JITTC will use advanced technology to create realistic training that matches the challenges of today’s warfare.”
The $multi-billion project is scheduled for completion by fall 2029. Once operational, it will serve as a year-round hub for integrated training, helping U.S. and allied forces refine tactics against modern adversaries.
Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, located just outside Anchorage, is Alaska’s largest military installation and a strategic hub for both the Army and Air Force. Its location offers unique advantages for training due to proximity to the Arctic and the Pacific, both areas of increasing geopolitical importance.
Currently, the Defense Department operates a similar Joint Integrated Test and Training Center at Nellis Air Force Base near Las Vegas. The Alaska JITTC will expand that capability, providing another anchor for joint operations and large-scale training exercises.
The groundbreaking comes as the Pentagon continues to emphasize Arctic readiness, cyber defense, and integrated joint training as key priorities in maintaining an edge over peer adversaries.
When completed, the JITTC is expected to be a cornerstone of U.S. and allied defense strategy, allowing military forces to test new technologies, train for joint operations, and prepare for the rapidly evolving challenges of modern warfare.
Originally reported by Gary Warner in Stars and Strips.
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