53rd WG hosts large-scale weapons system evaluation

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  • 96th Test Wing Public Affairs
The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group just completed one of the largest Weapons System Evaluation Programs to date.

The purpose of the WSEP here is to evaluate operational Department of Defense and foreign ally personnel, fighters, missiles and gunnery in realistic air combat scenarios.

The 53rd WEG is a geographically separated unit of the 53rd Wing headquartered at Eglin AFB.

With this particular evaluation, the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron hosted approximately 35 aircraft from five squadrons from around the U.S. Air Force and Navy. The WSEP is hosted 12 times each year and is mandated by Air Combat Command leadership.  The results of each evaluation is compiled into a briefing and presented to commanders across the Air Force.

According to Lt. Col. Matthew J. Bradley, commander of the 83rd FWS, a normal WSEP usually consists of two to three squadrons with no more than 24 aircraft on the ramp for two weeks; however this WSEP featured twice that number. 

The squadrons participating were the 336th Fighter Squadron from Seymour-Johnson AFB, the 112nd Fighter Squadron from the Toledo Air National Guard and the 433rd Weapons Squadron from Nellis AFB.

The 53rd WEG was also visited by two of its 53rd WG sister squadrons:  the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron from Eglin and the 422nd TES from Nellis.

Bradley said he believes running the evaluation multiple times a year improves the readiness and teamwork of not only the pilots, but also of the weapons maintainers and crew chiefs that assist in the air combat mission.

"These exercises improve the knowledge of the pilots," said Bradley. "Our turn patterns and maneuvers are well above what is expected."

The standard for the missile maintainers to load the weapons is around 75 minutes, but the 83rd FWS has cut it down to 40 minutes, according to Staff Sgt. Cory J. Hinton, 83rd FWS aircraft armament systems craftsman.

Another distinctive aspect of the 53rd WEG's mission is that it evaluates sister-service air-to-air and air-to-ground weapon performance was well.

"It's a unique situation here because this is one of the only places where we can cross into our sister services and impact naval WSEP operations, as well as units in the Marine Corps," said Senior Master Sgt. Dean G. Childs, 83rd FWS aircraft armament systems craftsman. "It gives us the opportunity to not only learn from them, but also allow them to see how the Air Force operates."

According to 83rd FWS records, when all 12 evaluation periods are combined, the WSEP successfully hosts approximately 30 squadrons between the Air Force and Navy. This includes over 200 aircraft and over 300 missiles.

Bradley said the WSEP has provided unparalleled opportunity for the U.S. military to train and project air power against any threat that may go against the U.S. and has been instrumental in the preparation for pilots for live combat.

"It takes a million minor miracles to shoot one missile, and we shot 47 this WSEP," said Bradley.

(The 325th Fighter Wing Public Affairs contributed to this article.)