192nd FW, 27th FS participate in Combat Archer

Photo By Staff Sgt. Solomon Cook | Members of Joint Base Langley-Eustis’ 192nd Fighter Wing and 27th Fighter Squadron work on an F-22 Raptor during Combat Archer, the U.S. Air Force's air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., Sept. 16, 2016. During Combat Archer, JBLE Airmen flew 223 sorties and successfully fired 13 missiles. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Solomon Cook)  

JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VA, UNITED STATES

10.05.2016

Story by Staff Sgt. Teresa Gallagher 

Joint Base Langley-Eustis

Members from the 27th Fighter Squadron and the 192nd Fighter Wing returned from Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, Sept. 30, 2016, where they spent three weeks participating in the Weapons System Evaluation Program.

Combat Archer, the U.S. Air Force's air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program executed by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, serves to evaluate aircraft, weapons, and the Airmen operating and maintaining these items.

“The WSEP evaluates our jets and missiles from cradle to grave,” said U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. David Elliott, 27th FS commander. “It encompasses everything from the factory build of the weapons, the construction for our ammo troops, the training of the air crews, the maintenance on the airplane and finally the engagement between the aircraft, the pilot and the adversary to make sure that the missile completes the intercept.”

While at Tyndall, pilots assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia gained experience they may not have received otherwise, to prepare them for combat operations. Airmen from JBLE also worked with members of the U.S. Marine Corps and other Air Force units flying various Aircraft including F-35 Lightning II, F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons and F-18 Hornets.


“It was their first time ever firing a missile for 12 of my pilots,” said Elliott. “Now those pilots have in-depth experience and information that they are then able to share and spread around to other pilots within the squadron and the wing and the rest of the flying community.”

According to Elliott, JBLE Airmen improved their mission capable rate significantly while flying 223 sorties during the program, and will use this training to continue to improve their rate.

“The WSEP program institutes a very specific sortie generation rate which is much higher than their home generation rate, creating a major challenge for the maintainers,” said Elliott. “These guys were working very hard to make sure that we could continue to fly those airplanes very frequently and successfully.”

• Date Taken: 10.05.2016
• Date Posted: 10.05.2016 15:46
• Story ID: 211362
• Location: JOINT BASE LANGLEY-EUSTIS, VA, US