During a training exercise conducted in the Pacific Ocean, a U.S. Navy F-18 was seen “firing” at a British F-35 fighter operating from the HMS Prince of Wales.
Images from the exercise began circulating on social media, along with much speculation about their meaning. However, as reported by the UK Defence Journal, it was simply a simulated combat training exercise.
The encounter took place as part of Dissimilar Air Combat Training (DACT), a regular component of multinational exercises. The goal of DACT is to give pilots of different aircraft types the opportunity to understand each other’s strengths, weaknesses, and tactics.
DACT originated in the later stages of the Vietnam War, when the U.S. introduced simulated training to replicate adversary aircraft tactics. The concept proved so effective that it became a cornerstone of advanced pilot training.
Today, DACT has evolved to reflect the realities of modern combat, which increasingly involve stealth, networked sensors, and electronic warfare, rather than simple “dogfighting.”
For F-35 pilots, these sessions provide vital experience in avoiding detection and surviving encounters with agile fourth-generation fighters, while for sailors, the objective is to learn how to locate and engage stealth aircraft under realistic conditions.
Additionally, the location of the exercise, conducted in the Pacific Ocean, is significant, as both navies are preparing for potential scenarios in a region where China is expanding its own aircraft carrier and fifth-generation fighter capabilities.
Photo: Reddit. This content was created with the help of AI and reviewed by the editorial team.
