Incoming

An F-15C Eagle from the 44th Fighter Squadron fires an AIM-120 missile during a Combat Archer mission at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., May 5. Combat Archer, an air-to-air weapons system evaluation program maintained by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron. 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. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. John Hoffmann)

Locked & loaded

An F-15C Eagle from the 44th Fighter Squadron flies loaded up AIM-120 missiles during a Combat Archer mission at Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., May 5. Combat Archer, an air-to-air weapons system evaluation program maintained by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron. 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. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. John Hoffmann)

Look out below

A B-1B Lancer releases a Guided Bomb Unit-32 during a Combat Hammer Sortie on the Eglin Air Force Base range March 16. The bomber from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas, participated in the week-long air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer. The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Cruising the coastline

A B-1B Lancer soars over the Gulf Coast during a Combat Hammer Sortie on the Eglin Air Force Base range March 16. The bomber from the 7th Bomb Wing at Dyess AFB, Texas, flew in and dropped a Guided Bomb Unit-32 during the week-long air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer. The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (Courtesy photo.)

Loaded

An F-16 Fighting Falcon loaded with a Guided Bomb Unit-12 from the 20th Fighter Wing waits to taxi out for a sortie March 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)

Flight checks

Senior Airman Keith Tunstall and Staff Sgt. Bryan Waldo, 20th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, execute flight checks on their F-16 Fighting Falcon March 14 at Eglin Air Force Base, Fla. More than 10 F-16s from the 20th Fighter Wing were on hand to participate in the air-to-ground weapons system evaluation program known as Combat Hammer at Eglin. The week-long evaluation is conducted by the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located here. The squadron hosts 20 to 25 evaluations at Hill and Eglin each year, assessing weapon system performance, reliability, capabilities, and limitations in realistic combat scenarios against representative real-world targets. (U.S. Air Force photo/Samuel King Jr.)