The fact that the 1st Fighter Wing at Joint Base Langley-Eustis broke all records set up to now by firing 28 air-to-air missiles in total from a single unit of F-22 Raptor in a training exercise that took place in September 2022 makes it an impressive feat of military power.
This exercise under the Weapons System Evaluation Program at Tyndall Air Force Base showed that the squadron was ready and could work well in teamwork.
F-22 sidewinder and AMRAAM missiles cost $14 million; they are put to the test on “Day Three” warfare scenarios when stealth becomes secondary.
Staff Sgt. Edgar Baez-Lopez of the 94th Fighter Generation Squadron said, “It’s never been done before.”.
The 28-missile configuration is unprecedented. The exercise called for innovative use both of internal weapons bays and external hardpoints, so to speak, turning the F-22 into a missile platform.
The crew handled the trying situation superbly.
Senior Master Sgt. Jared Robinson said that exceptional teamwork and communication between the crew was crucial in keeping the exercise running operationally efficiently.
The exercise would allow them to demonstrate the capability of the F-22, where air dominance has been accomplished and patrolling against enemy aircraft successfully with its capabilities in dogfighting.
The 115th Fighter Wing of Wisconsin Air National Guard recently completed its initial F-35A Lightning II training deployment at Tyndall Air Force Base.
More than 150 Airmen participated in the Combat Archer exercise and got valuable experience handling and firing live air-to-air munitions.
Capt. Alexander Abbott “This exercise provided significant critical feedback not only to the unit but to the engineers as well,” he said.
Tech. Sgt. Patrick Joyce said this was an excellent test on F-35 live munitions, which is not what they are accustomed to when working on the F-16s.
High-threat environment, said Lt. Col. Michael Koob, meaning they have to drive high-speed takeoffs. This is not something that is usually done at their home base in Madison because of noise concerns.
The exercise goes through all of the deployment procedures, preparing a unit if the unit is ever deployed overseas.
These exercises affirm the commitment to continuing readiness and situational advancement by the U.S. Air Force.