The U.S. Air Force has started to facilitate integrated direct support practice sorties in Lockheed Martin-built F-35A and F-16 aircraft as a regular part of the training curriculum at Luke Air Force Base.

The service branch said Tuesday 56th Fighter Wing pilots began to fly F-35A and F-16 aircraft in October as part of efforts to further develop F-35’s training and tactics.

“It’s important not only for our F-35 pilots to see integration, but also for our F-16 instructor pilots, who after their time here at Luke will eventually go back into combat Air Force assignments where having that knowledge of how to work with fifth-generation aircraft is going to be vital to their warfighting capability,” said Col. David Shoemaker, vice commander of 56th Fighter Wing.

Integrated training works to expose F-35 pilots to air-to-air combat operations against fourth-generation aircraft that could mimic adversaries as well as prepare F-35 and F-16 pilots for joint strike missions, the Air Force said.

The service branch noted pilots need to be proficient in integrated tactics to maximize the use of both fighter jets since the two aircraft will operate together before F-35 replaces the four-decade-old F-16.

Luke AFB is scheduled to host 144 F-35s between six F-35 fighter squadrons as part of the training development.

A group of more than 200 U.S. sailors, airmen and soldiers worked with the Operational Test Command at West Fort Hood in Texas to test the service members’ ability to respond to simultaneous mock chemical attacks.

The U.S. Army said Tuesday military personnel used the Next Generation Chemical Detector system during the joint exercise that occurred from Oct. 24 to Nov. 17.

Participants in the exercise included members from the 181st Hazard Response Company, 2nd Chemical Battalion, 48th Chemical Brigade, Expeditionary Strike Group 2, USS Bataan, Malmstrom Air Force Base, Minot Air Force Base and Barksdale Air Force Base.

“We’re collecting specific data necessary to inform the program manager and the services with information on the effectiveness, suitability, and survivability of the NGCD systems,” said Eric Graham, OTC operational research analyst.

“Our data collection efforts will ultimately assist in the manufacturing, development and production of critical chemical detection equipment for the Department of Defense.”

Christine Miller, a member of the OTC’s Maneuver Support and Sustainment Test Directorate, said the systems from three NGCD increments were used at the operational assessment and helped soldiers prepare for upcoming training exercises.

House and Senate lawmakers have reached a compromise on a bill that would allocate $619 billion in defense budget for fiscal year 2017, Breaking Defense reported Tuesday.

Sydney J. Freedberg Jr. writes the 2017 National Defense Authorization Act is approximately $3.2 billion higher than President Barack Obama’s FY 2017 budget request and is scheduled to be put up for a vote in the House by Dec. 2 and the Senate by next week.

The bill would add 1,000 soldiers to the U.S. Army, 4,000 airmen to the U.S. Air Force and 3,000 service personnel to the U.S. Marine Corps, the report said.

The proposed NDAA would reduce the size of the National Security Council to 200 positions, impose a 2.1 percent raise in military pay and require a study on the selective service system, according to a report by Patricia Zengerle on Reuters.

The bill also includes restrictions on transfers related to the military detention facility in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, and would expand a visa program for Afghans who work for the U.S. military, Zengerle wrote.

Scott Maucione also reports for Federal News Radio that the proposed measure would remove and split the Defense Department’s undersecretary for acquisition, technology and logistics role into two positions.

A senior armed services committee aide told reporters that DoD will have an undersecretary who will focus on acquisition and support and another one who will handle research and engineering functions, according to Maucione.

The bill would allocate $68 billion in funds for overseas contingency operations and designate the U.S. Cyber Command as a full combatant command, the report added.