The Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) at NASF is the center of excellence of naval aviation training and tactics development.

NSAWC provides service to aircrews, squadrons and airwings throughout the United States Navy through flight training, academic classes and direct operational and intelligence support. The command consists of more than 130 officers, 250 enlisted and 500 contract personnel. NSAWC flies and maintains the F/A-18 Hornet, the F-16 Viper fighter aircraft and SH-60F Seahawk helicopters.

NSAWC consolidated three commands into a single command structure on July 11, 1996 to enhance aviation training effectiveness. The Naval Strike Warfare Center (STRIKE "U"), based at NAS Fallon since 1984, joined with the Navy Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN) and the Carrier Airborne Early Warning Weapons School (TOPDOME). Both commands moved from NAS Miramar, as a result of a Base Realignment and Closure decision, in 1993.

NSAWC is the primary authority on training and tactics development. NSAWC provides training, assessments, recommendations for aviation requirements, research and development priorities for integrated strike warfare, maritime and overland air superiority. It also includes strike fighter employment, airborne battle management, Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR), Close Air Support (CAS) and associated planning support systems. The command is also responsible for the development, implementation and administration of several courses of instruction. It also acts as the Navy point of contact for all issues relating to the Air Combat Training Continuum (ACTC). Additionally, NSAWC is the Navy's point of contact for all issues related to the Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC).

NSAWC consists of nine departments. Personnel Resources (N1) oversees administrative functions, supply, security, automated information systems and first lieutenant. The Intelligence Department (N2) provides support to airwing training in Fallon as well as to deployed carrier strike groups. Operations (N3) manages the scheduling for aircraft, aircrew, the training ranges, and keeps aircrew log books and records. The Maintenance Department (N4) maintains all NSAWC aircraft— including parts and supplies, manages loadings, unloadings and storage of ordnance and maintains aircrew flight equipment. Plans, Programs and Tactics (N5) is involved in tactics development and assessment for tactical aircraft and SH-60 helicopters, program management and participation, mission planning and inter/intra service liaison. The C4I/C2W Department (N6) provides graduate-level command, control, communication and computer intelligence training and includes battle management training to E-2 aircrew, joint inter-operability training to naval warfare communities, as well as to the U.S. Air Force and NATO commands.

The Training and Standardization Department (N7) instructs graduate-level strike-fighter employment through the "TOPGUN" Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor (SFTI) course. It also conducts the Strike Leader Attack Training Syllabus (SLATS) and Senior Officers Course (SOC) and manages airwing power projection training. The Range Department (N8) oversees and manages the usage, maintenance and operation of equipment in the Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC). This includes the Tactical Air Combat Training System (TACTS). Finally, the Operational Risk Management/Safety Department (N9) manages air-and-ground related safety programs as well as medical training programs.

There are two distinct areas of NSAWC training using the Fallon Range Training Complex extensively, they are-carrier airwing (CVW) training and the "TOPGUN" SFTI course. Airwing training brings together all of an airwing's squadrons for four weeks, providing strike planning and execution training opportunities in a dynamic, realistic, scenariodriven simulated wartime environment. Airwing training consists of power projection training in strike warfare, amphibious operations, joint battlefield operations, Close Air Support and Combat Search and Rescue (CSAR). The SFTI course trains individuals in the art of air-to-air and air-to-ground superiority. It provides highly advanced tactical training in the F/A-18A/C/D/E/F, including tactics, hardware and threat training. Airwing training is conducted an average of five times per year, and the SFTI course is conducted four times a year. Additionally, NSAWC staff members augment "adversary" air support, or "bandit" presentations, to support airborne portions of the training. NSAWC also annually hosts a 10- day CSAR exercise, "Desert Rescue," providing all-service participation with one full week of exercise flying involved. Concurrent with each SFTI course, NSAWC conducts an adversary- training course where pilots receive individual instruction in threat simulation, effective threat presentation and adversary tactics. Each class trains five to six Air Intercept Controllers in effective strike/fighter command and control. In the classroom, NSAWC also conducts tactically oriented courses. The SOC addresses strategic and tactical issues at the carrier strike group commander, airwing commander and squadron commanding officer level. SLATS introduces junior Navy and Marine Corps officers to all aspects of an airwing, carrier strike group and joint force tactics, planning and hardware. Another important course is the Advanced Mission Commander's Course, which focuses on the airborne battle management, providing graduate-level command, control and communication training to E-2C mission commanders and other carrier aircraft plane commanders.

The Plans, Programs and Tactics (N5) department utilizes both NSAWC and fleet aircraft to develop the latest in airwing tactics. These are standardized and promulgated to the fleet via the Naval Warfare Publication 3-01 "Carrier Airwing Tactical Memo," and updated bi-annually. The N5 department forms a core of expertise that functions to advise the Chief of Naval Operations on programmatic issues, and lends its support to real world operations as weapons experts providing extensive liaison and standardization to other Naval and joint training agencies.

The Fallon Range Training Complex (FRTC) encompasses more than 13,000-square miles of airspace east of NAS Fallon, including a vast array of electronic systems supporting squadron, airwing and SFTI training. The heart of this program is the Tactical Air Combat Training System or TACTS. This computer-supported real-time digital display allows monitoring of each training event as it occurs on the ranges. It also has recording capability for debriefing. Information is transmitted instantaneously from each aircraft to large screen displays at NSAWC and recorded for playback to the aircrews for post-flight analysis of procedures and tactics. This system also allows controllers and aircrews to view an event from several different aspects in three dimensions.