WSEP

A fighter jet is sky bound during Combat Archer Feb. 6 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

Two of Florida’s Air National Guard F-15C Eagles taxi down the runway during Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

An Airman marshals a fighter jet during Combat Archer Jan. 29 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

An F-15 Strike Eagle from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, taxis past the 82nd Aerial Target Squadron’s QF-4s during Combat Archer Feb. 6 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

The Florida Air National Guard participated in Combat Archer Jan. 29 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

F-15C Eagles from the Florida Air National Guard taxi down the runway during Combat Archer Jan. 30 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

An F-15C Eagle flies over Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., during Combat Archer Jan. 31. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

An F-15C Eagle takes off during Combat Archer Jan. 31 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

A fighter jet takes off during Combat Archer Feb. 6 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

The 82nd Aerial Target Squadron’s QF-4 heritage aircraft prepares for flight during Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

A group of F-15 Strike Eagles from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, taxi on the runway during Combat Archer Feb. 6 at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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WSEP

An F-15 Strike Eagle from Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, taxis down the runway Feb. 6 during Combat Archer at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. J. Scott Wilcox)

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Combat Archer: Fighter jets, missile systems

Published Feb. 14, 2013
By Senior Airman Christopher Reel
325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group, a tenant organization, is assigned to Tyndall Air Force Base and falls under the 53rd Wing, Eglin AFB, Fla.

The 53rd WEG recently conducted the air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program, known as Combat Archer, which exercises and evaluates the air-to-air weapon system capability of combat aircraft.

The 53rd WEG's 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron hosts approximately 38 air-to-air WSEP deployments annually, according to their factsheet. Squadron personnel verify weapon system performance, determine reliability, evaluate capability and limitations, identify deficiencies, recommend corrective action, and maintain combat Air Force-wide data. The squadron additionally investigates missile envelopes and evaluates capabilities and limitations to determine future firing requirements. They provide liaison support for pre-deployment, employment, and redeployment of Air Combat Command, U.S. Air Forces Europe, Pacific Air Forces, Air National Guard, U.S. Air Force Reserve and Canadian Forces participating in WSEP and Weapons Instructor Course missile firing programs.

The group's 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall and Holloman AFB, N.M., operates the Defense Department's only full-scale aerial target program, maintaining an inventory of approximately 50 modified QF-4 Phantom II aircraft for this purpose. It also provides BQM-34 and BQM-167 subscale aerial targets to Gulf range customers at Tyndall. Full and subscale aerial targets are provided to Air Force, U.S. Navy and U.S. Army customers for developmental and operational tests. The squadron also provides target support for WSEP.

For additional information, visit the 53rd WEG homepage. For additional photos, Common Access Card holders can view them on SharePoint, by clicking here.