Cubic Defense to Showcase Immersive Air Combat Training Systems

Cubic Defense is set to feature its secure, interoperable, and immersive air combat training technologies at Hook ’26, the Tailhook Association Naval Aviation Symposium held in Reno, Nevada.

Aligned with the symposium’s theme, “Warfighting Innovation Now,” the company will demonstrate how modular hardware and software upgrades to existing training infrastructure can help Navy and Marine Corps aviation communities simulate the speed, mass, and complexity of high-end combat while safeguarding sensitive tactics, techniques, and procedures. These enhancements aim to connect fourth- and fifth-generation participants across joint and coalition operations.

“Naval aviators need training that reflects the speed, density and complexity of the high-end fight—and they need it at a pace and cost the force can sustain,” said Tammy L. Schmidt, Vice President and General Manager of Advanced Training Solutions, Cubic Defense. “At Hook ’26, we are showing how secure telemetry, synthetic-inject-to-live training and integrated mission analysis can extend proven infrastructure, connect fourth- and fifth-generation participants and accelerate learning across Navy, Marine Corps, joint and coalition operations.”

Demonstrations at Booth #129 will highlight three main components of Cubic’s integrated training suite: the P5 Combat Training System modernization, Simplified Planning Execution Analysis and Reconstruction (SPEAR), and Synthetic-Inject-to-Live (SITL) Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) platform. The modular P5 architecture incorporates a System Security Update (SSU) that introduces Type 1 encryption to existing pods for secure fourth- and fifth-generation interoperability alongside the F-35 P5 Internal Subsystem. Furthermore, P5 Block 7 updates transmit additional sensor and weapons data to provide representative LVC effects modeling without replacing established infrastructure.

To streamline post-event review, SPEAR utilizes a common data model that combines kinetic and non-kinetic data into a time-synchronized mission record. Its contextualized displays and embedded analytics assist aircrew in evaluating operational outcomes, while shared workspaces support live monitoring and mass debriefs across both ashore and afloat locations. Meanwhile, the SITL LVC platform injects virtual entities, threats, weapons, and effects directly into live cockpit displays during flight, preserving live platform execution while replicating dense combat environments.

Together, these platforms unify instrumentation, synthetic battlespace creation, live flight execution, reconstruction, and debriefing into a continuous readiness cycle. Cubic Defense’s air combat training capabilities support the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, U.S. Air Force, and international partners, having been deployed in major exercises such as Valiant Shield, Cope North, Cobra Warrior, and Talisman Saber.