Ready for action
An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 391st Fighter Squadron flies loaded up with a GBU-12 and a GBU-28 during a Combat Hammer mission at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Combat Hammer is an air-to-ground Weapons System Evaluation Program maintained by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron. Combat Hammer marked the first of three weeks of evaluation at Hill AFB by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group. Combat Archer, an air-to-air evaluation, is the second week, followed by a combined air and ground WSEP in the final week. The WSEP program is used to evaluate the effectiveness and suitability of combat air force weapon systems. The evaluations are accomplished during tactical deliveries of fighter, bomber and unmanned aerial system precision guided munitions, on realistic targets with air-to-air and surface-to-air defenses. For many of the aircrew participating in WSEP, it is the first time employing live weapons. This provides a level of combat experience many units face during combat. (Courtesy photo.)