Advanced Training Center for Military to Be Built in Alaska

A groundbreaking ceremony was held in Alaska for the construction of the Joint Integrated Test and Training Center (JITTC). 

This marks the beginning of the construction of an integrated test and training facility at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER), the US Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) reported in TheDefensePost.

The JITTC will provide ongoing support to the Army through continuous, scalable training programs for military personnel.

According to the USACE, the JITTC is planned as a state-of-the-art simulation environment that will combine virtual and constructive elements to simulate realistic combat in all domains.

The facility will provide flexibility and adaptability to units through the use of hardware-adapted operator stations and cabs of equipment in service with the army.

“The project involves the construction of a modern two-story, 149,913 square foot facility designed for cold weather conditions. The facility will consist of simulation rooms, briefing areas, mission operations centers, a central server room, an auditorium, administrative offices, a security office, restrooms, and storage,” the USACE said.

Construction is scheduled to begin in October 2025 and be completed in the fall of 2029.

The USACE also emphasizes that the project will further strengthen JBER’s role as a strategic center for national defense and homeland security.

What is known about the JBER base

Elmendorf-Richardson combines Elmendorf Air Force Base and Fort Richardson of the US Army. It is the largest military base in Alaska, home to more than 32,000 people – about 10% of Anchorage’s population.

During the Cold War, the Elmendorf-Richardson base was considered ‘particularly important’ for the defense of the United States against the then Soviet Union, Sky News reminds.

The base is home to American F-22 Raptor fighters, which, according to the US Air Force, are “unmatched by any known fighter jet.”

The US Department of Defense describes the area as “picturesque, majestic, snow-capped mountains, lakes, rivers, glaciers, and abundant wildlife.”

Recently, the US Department of Defense, together with the Defense Innovation Unit (DIU), announced its intention to create a test infrastructure for drones in an environment as close as possible to combat conditions similar to those in Ukraine.

They are considering, in particular, the possibility of testing in remote areas of Alaska, where the risks to civilian infrastructure are much lower.