U.S. Air Force Uses Contracted JSX-2 SubSonex Microjets to Simulate Cruise Missiles in Exercise Northern Strike 24 | Aviation

The U.S. Air Force continues to make its exercises more and more realistic while preparing for a possible near-peer fight in the Pacific, training to defend against cruise missiles and UAVs simulated by microjets.

In the skies over Northern Michigan, the U.S. Air Force is simulating interceptions of cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) with tiny, homebuilt microjets from Sonex Aircraft. Real world events have shown the increasingly frequent use of cruise missiles and UAVs on the battlefield, demonstrating the importance of being able to counter them effectively.

The pair of microjets, civilian registration numbers N55KX and N66KX, are operating out of the Alpena Combat Readiness Training Center (CRTC), Michigan, and flying alongside exercise participants. The operator, KestrelX, had been awarded a contract in 2022 for “UAV and cruise missile threat replication aircraft” valued at $725,053 USD.

The JSX-2s involved in the exercise are also seen to be carrying a pod of some sort on their bellies that isn’t included in the standard model of the type. With a $725,000 contract awarded to the company the pods could really be carrying anything. On their website, SubSonex has the price…