About this Unit
The Naval Strike Warfare Center (NSWC) was established in 1984 at Naval Air Station (NAS) Fallon, Nevada, as the U.S. Navy’s premier command for strike warfare training and tactics development. Its mission was to provide advanced training to naval aviators, aircrews, and strike groups, focusing on integrated strike warfare, electronic warfare, and air wing tactics. The NSWC became renowned for its realistic training scenarios, using the vast Fallon ranges to simulate complex combat environments. In 1996, the NSWC merged with other commands to form the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC), continuing its legacy of excellence in naval aviation training.
Historical Facts
• Origin in Topgun: The Naval Strike Warfare Center (NSWC) at NAS Fallon was established in 1984, building on the legacy of the Navy Fighter Weapons School (Topgun) to centralize advanced strike warfare training.
• Home of the "Strike U": NSWC was popularly known as "Strike University" or "Strike U," where naval aviators and aircrews learned complex tactics, mission planning, and strike leadership.
• Birthplace of Modern Strike Tactics: The center played a crucial role in developing and refining the Navy's modern strike warfare doctrines, tactics, and simulated adversary training scenarios.
• Merger with Topgun: In 1996, Topgun, Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (CAEWWS), and the Electronic Warfare Weapons School merged with NSWC to form the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC), consolidating advanced air combat training at Fallon.
• Red Air Missions: NSWC pioneered advanced "Red Air" (aggressor) training, using specially trained pilots to simulate enemy tactics and aircraft, challenging students in realistic combat scenarios.
• World-Class Ranges: The Fallon Range Training Complex, used by NSWC, spans over 14,000 square miles—one of the largest and most sophisticated air warfare ranges in the world.
• Desert Testing Ground: The arid Nevada desert provided an ideal environment for live-fire exercises, electronic warfare training, and precision-guided munitions development.
• Influence on Real-World Combat: Tactics and training developed at NSWC have been credited with U.S. Navy successes in operations such as Desert Storm, Allied Force, and Enduring Freedom.
• Joint and Allied Training: NSWC/NSAWC regularly hosted joint exercises with other U.S. services and allied nations, sharing expertise and improving interoperability.
• Hollywood Connections: The center and its personnel have advised on military films and documentaries, further cementing Fallon's reputation as a hub of air combat expertise and innovation.
