Top Aces

While yesterday’s victories are adorned with medals and accolades, the Air Force and defense sector understand that these successes are not the end. They are a meaningful pause and a reminder that the final question is always: how ready are our defense operators and pilots for tomorrow’s challenges?

As former active-duty fighter pilots, Brian “Taz” Delamater, vice president of business development, and Aaron “Fang” Steffens, senior director of enterprise technology at Top Aces, know the weight this question carries.

“We believe experience matters. That’s why we combine real-world operational expertise with cutting-edge technology and advanced fleets, delivering immersive, realistic adversary training to prepare our defense forces against the most advanced threats of tomorrow,” says Taz.

More than a motto, this belief is foundational to Top Aces’ operational edge. Almost 75 percent of its F-16 pilots are U.S. Air Force Aggressor Squadron alumni, each with an average of nearly 2,500 hours in the 4th Generation fighter. As the first and only company to own and operate commercial F-16s, Top Aces has become a trusted strategic partner to its Air Force customers.

Beyond playing the role of a simulated adversary, Top Aces serves as a multi-faceted contract aggressor force, with F-16s that are fully certified for air-to-air refueling. In a recent classified U.S. exercise involving over 60 aircraft, they executed 10 precise aerial refuelings during day and night missions—extending flight times to nearly three hours by day and over two and a half at night, almost tripling the on-station training value of each sortie.
The night mission resulted in three kills of high-value Blue assets, while the day mission confirmed four kills, including three fifth-gen aircraft. These outcomes result from Top Aces’ purpose-built F-16 aggressors designed to challenge even the most advanced fifth-generation fighters like the F-22 and F-35. Equipped with cutting-edge capabilities such as AESA radar, infrared search and track (IRST), the Scorpion helmet-mounted cueing system, Link 16 tactical datalink and modern electronic attack (EA) pods, the company brings near-peer adversary realism to every engagement.

At the core of Top Aces’ capabilities is its proprietary advanced aggressor mission system (AAMS). Launched after four years of R&D by in-house engineers and technicians, AAMS’ open architecture allows rapid integration of advanced sensors and functions, such as an AI-driven constructive wingman system.

Developed in collaboration with EpiSci, these virtual wingmen are expanding a new frontier in LVC training. They mimic real fighters in training, flying in formation and behaving like live pilots—effectively doubling the number of aircraft the opposing side sees. They’re fully programmable in real-time.

“These advanced capabilities, combined with our experienced Baron ground controllers, amplify training by providing a ‘God’s-eye view’ to our pilots, further enhancing the effectiveness of their state-of-the-art sensors and simulated weapons,” says Fang. “In one particular air force exercise, our Baron controller was recognized as a superior performer, high praise for a contractor.” This rare honor highlights the caliber, professionalism and culture at Top Aces. It stands invaluable when simulating complex combat environments, increasing the cognitive load on Blue Forces to train under pressure and prepare for intense real-world missions.

Top Aces’ commitment to excellence is evident in its delivery of authentic, full-threat training sorties. Blue forces no longer need to spend limited live-fly training hours simulating the enemies and instead train against a realistic, professional opposition force.

At the same time, Top Aces provides a cost-effective solution that eases the military’s operational burden. Its dedicated Red Air support helps preserve frontline aircraft and reduces unnecessary wear and tear.

In a world where geopolitical tensions rise by the day, Top Aces’ aerial combat training stands as a strategic imperative. Embodying the principle of “Train like you fight, fight like you train,” it equips fighter pilots with the critical skills and experience needed to dominate the battlespace.