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  • The life and death of WSEP missiles

    Tyndall Air Force Base is one of the select few locations in the U.S. Department of Defense where weapons system testing with live-fire missiles is a regular activity. Tyndall’s prime access to the Eastern Gulf of Mexico (EGOMEX) provides aircraft of all shapes and sizes with an airspace large

  • 82nd ATRS Detachment 1 trains using QF-16 Vipers at Holloman

    On clear and sunny days, the orange-winged QF-16 Vipers can be seen soaring through the sky… sometimes on their way to be shot down during an exercise. Det 1, at Holloman Air Force is a detachment from Air Combat Command's 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, who provide

  • WSEP supports 94th FGS’s first MCA team mission

    Fighter generation squadrons across the U.S. Air Force are fostering Cross Utilization Training and the Multi-Capable Airmen concept as the service branch continues towards operationalizing Agile Combat Employment to ensure a sustainable force of Airmen and airpower at any time and any place. The

  • Checkered Flag 23-1 Concludes

    Tyndall Air Force Base wrapped-up Checkered Flag 23-1 exercise today, after two weeks of rigorous flying operations.

  • 53rd Wing completes first live-fire test event for AIM-120D3 F3R program

    The 28th Test and Evaluation Squadron and 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron executed the first-ever guided launch of the AIM-120D3 Advanced Medium Range Air-to-Air Missile Form, Fit, Function, Refresh (F3R) from an F-15E Strike Eagle, successfully engaging a QF-16 full-scale aerial target, June 30,

  • Here comes the bang

    The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group hosts a Weapons System Evaluation Program almost monthly at Tyndall Air Force Base. The 325th Munitions Squadron prepares all the munitions for each of these exercises, which usually involve one or two units. WSEP-East 22.08, held May 9-20, 2022, pushed the unit to

  • Team Tyndall ramps up for aircraft exercises

    Checkered Flag is a large-force aerial exercise held at Tyndall which fosters readiness and interoperability through the incorporation of 4th- and 5th-generation aircraft during air-to-air combat training. The 22-2 iteration of the exercise was held May 9-20, 2022. The 53rd Weapons Evaluation

  • Tyndall moves full speed ahead for Checkered Flag exercise

    The airspace and roadways surrounding Tyndall Air Force Base are busy as the installation moves full speed ahead into Checkered Flag 22-2, May 9-20, 2022. Checkered Flag is one of the Department of Defense’s largest air-to-air exercises, designed to test and improve air combat capabilities and

  • Tyndall’s Checkered Flag; promoting air dominance

    The skies over Bay and Gulf Counties are busy as personnel and aircraft from across the country have come to Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, for Checkered Flag 22-1 which runs Nov. 8 through Nov. 19, 2021. Checkered Flag is one of the Department of Defense’s largest air-to-air exercises,

  • Pilot proving grounds; WSEP puts aviators, maintenance, air crew to the test

    The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, recently hosted the Weapons System Evaluation Program East 21.12, Sept. 13-24, 2021. The exercise focused on providing maintainers and pilots with the unique experience of using live munitions to enhance readiness for real-world

  • Fox Fox! Tyndall F-22s test AIM-9 missiles

    The 43rd Fighter Squadron tested its combat capabilities this week during a live-fire exercise where five F-22 Raptor aircraft launched five AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles out of Eglin Air Force Base, Florida Dec. 15, 2020.

  • 53rd WEG hosts simultaneous WSEPs in Florida, Utah

    The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group hosted both Weapons System Evaluation Program East and West from November 2-13, 2020. The WSEPs included more than 86 aircraft participating at the two installations in live-fire air-to-air and air-to-ground evaluations. 

  • F-22 pilots fire live missiles at Combat Archer

    More than 200 pilots, maintainers and operations support staff from the 1st Fighter Wing are gaining firsthand experience in loading and firing live missiles at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida from July 6-20, 2018.Combat Archer as part of the Weapons System Evaluation Program, in conjunction with

  • Tom and Jerry’s Father’s Day special: Part II

    In the early afternoon hours, Tom prepared, it was a day he had been longing for decades; the day he would finally have Jerry’s number. He carefully reviewed his plan, plotted his course, and prepared for the ultimate game of cat-and-mouse – a battle between father and son.

  • Tom and Jerry’s Father’s Day special: Part I

    In the early afternoon hours, a game of cat and mouse is played, Jerry once again on the verge of getting the best of Tom. This time the tides have turned, Tom came out victorious. These characters however, are not the cartoon stars some may be thinking about, they are a father-son duo in the U.S.

  • 79th FS ‘Tigers’ roar in Raptor Country

    As the second week of Checkered Flag 18-1 and concurrently running Weapon Systems Evaluation Program exercises continue, Airmen from the 79th Fighter Squadron from Shaw Air Force Base, South Carolina, sustain the high tempo while bringing further dynamics to the large-scale exercises.

  • F-15C simulators provide low-cost, critical training

    Projecting unrivaled combat airpower is expensive, which is why one Tyndall unit invested in smarter operations for lower training costs. This unit can launch a jet, fly an unlimited amount of hours and fight thousands of enemies all from a single room. This can be done through four F-15C Eagle

  • PoinT: smarter operations for the 53rd WEG

    Members the 53rd Weapon Evaluations Group leadership met Dec. 16, 2016, to discuss the group’s newest initiative that uses innovative problem solving to help streamline their mission.