EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Welcome to the monthly mission report for the 96th Operations Group. These are the tasks Airmen and civilians are progressing on inside the squadrons and units within the group.
40th Flight Test Squadron
• F-16 Pylon Integrated Dispenser System Universal (PIDS-U) Flutter Flight Test (FFT)
F-16 Viper test pilots fly with a range of mixed weapons loads on the pylons beneath the aircraft’s wings. The PIDS-U pylon will provide options and improvements to countermeasure dispensing. Flutter flight test is performed to collect data on the aero-elastic impacts of mounting new external racks and stores on the aircraft. The goal of this testing is to certify the PIDS-U to fly on the F-16 and provide the user with a safe and useful flight envelope.
• Spitfire 2
A squadron F-15 and F-16 flew as airborne targets in a radar data gathering test. The pilots flew a circular race track at a variety of altitudes and angles. The Air Force Research Laboratory collected data to be used in the development of advanced algorithms for incorporation on tactical platforms.
• A-10 and F-16 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System II (APKWS II) test support
Instrumented rockets with M282 warheads were carried on the F-16 during a series of maneuvers designed to stress the components of the rocket and measure vibrations within the store. The test support is for the Air Force SEEK EAGLE office.
• Guided Bomb Unit -12 baseline flight testing
The test pilots of the squadron are releasing GBU-12s from F-16s to establish a performance baseline from which continuous improvements can be made. The test support is to assist Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control.
780th Test Squadron
• Small Diameter Bomb II
Squadron personnel have planned SDB II releases in support of government confidence testing. So far, maritime environment and convoy vehicles were the targeted areas.
Successes
40th FTS
The squadron completed specific A-10 and F-16 testing of the APKWS II in December. The goal of the testing was to verify the structural integrity and functionality of the AGR-20B rocket within two types of launchers and clear a useful operational envelope for the warfighter.
The squadron completed F-15C and D testing of the common range integrated instrumentation system (CRIIS) pod in December. Electronic interference testing was completed to allow carriage of an improved instrumentation and tracking pod on several 96th Test Wing platforms.
The squadron completed APKWS rocket mass properties measurements to enable certification for the Lebanese Air Force’s A-29 in December.