EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group will conduct its first post-Hurricane Michael COMBAT ARCHER Dec. 3-14.
This COMBAT ARCHER will exercise and evaluate the air-to-air weapon system capability of F-22s from the 27th Fighter Squadron from Langley AFB, Va and two F-35s from the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin AFB. The F-22s and F-35s will be flying out of Eglin AFB and performing live fire in the warning areas south of Tyndall AFB.
This event will be supported by the 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron launching and controlling QF-16 aerial targets, the 81st Range Control Squadron conducting command and control and the 53rd Test Support Squadron providing electronic attack pods out of Tyndall AFB.
The 83rd Fighter Weapon Squadron will conduct telemetry data collection and missile analysis out of Tyndall AFB and flight operations out of Eglin AFB.
"The evaluation of COMBAT ARCHER provides a one of a kind opportunity for maintainers and aircrew to ensure confidence in air-to-air weapons employment," said Col. Steven Boatright, 53rd WEG commander. "The importance of building a more lethal force is a cornerstone of the 53rd WEG. Once the hurricane damage was assessed, the squadrons in the WEG went to work to figure out the safest and most efficient way to conduct a COMBAT ARCHER."
The Air Force recently announced that the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group mission will remain at Tyndall AFB. The 53rd WEG is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing headquartered at Eglin AFB. As the sole operational test wing for the U.S. Air Force, the 53rd Wing develops, test, evaluates, and delivers effective and sustainable combat capabilities to perfect lethality and survivability of the nation's combat forces.