Today, there is a growing threat posed by rival fifth and sixth-generation fighter development. The U.S. Air Force decided to use part of its daily fifth-generation aircraft at bases Langley, Elmendorf, Hill, and Eielson, to replicate adversary fifth-generation capabilities as part of an aggressor program that addresses current warfighting tactics through training. The real threat is the reason behind activating these aggressor squadrons that has proven to benefit warfighters. As the first ever F-35 aggressor squadron is now established at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, it will ensure that warfighters work hard for each mission. 

The 65th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis reactivated in June 2022 with a directed mission to know, teach and replicate fifth-generation air adversaries. The F-35 represents low-observable threats like what adversaries are developing now and this type of training best readies pilots.  

The aggressor program began in the 1970s to provide pilots the opportunity to train against a U.S. aggressor force that replicated advanced and credible adversary tactics. Since then, the adversary capabilities have improved significantly and so did the need to replicate these threats – enter the decision to use the F-35 in the pilot trainings. First-Ever F-35 Aggressor Squadron Stands Up at Nellis - Air Force Magazine