WEG hosts Bold Tigers for Combat Archer

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Benjamin Sutton
  • 366th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. --  More than 130 members from the 391st Fighter Squadron, "Bold Tigers", along with eight F-15E Strike Eagles, participated in Combat Archer here, July 8 to 22.

The exercise is an air-to-air Weapons System Evaluation Program conducted by the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group to test the total air-to-air weapon system capabilities of the F-15E Strike Eagle.

"This exercise is a great opportunity for us, as aircrews, to get a better understanding of what shooting live missiles feels like during flight," explained Capt. Francis Imlay, executive officer of the 391st FS. "It also gives the maintainers and munitions crew personnel real world practice for eventual combat situations."

Since aircrews rarely get the opportunity to engage in actual air-to-air combat, this is truly a unique opportunity. During standard training flights at home station, aircrews go through all the steps to fire a missile, except actually firing one, so there is no way to clearly validate whether the shot would have hit the target other than what qualifies as a valid simulation.

The training benefits not only the aircrew but also the maintainers.

"This was my first time loading live missiles and our crew performed exceptionally well getting everything loaded and ready for the aircrew," said Airman 1st Class Oniel Hernandez, weapons load crew member with the 391st FS.

Not only does Combat Archer provide aircrews with confidence from loading and firing live missiles, but it also gives Air Force weapons system managers a forum to verify system performance, capabilities and limitations.

"We train for combat every day so safety and procedures do not change regardless of fake or live munitions," said Tech. Sgt. Rey Oliveras, avionics specialist with the 391st FS. "The exercise is extremely valuable because we can identify problems or deficiencies in performance and handling before we are in a serious combat situation."

During this exercise, members of the 391st received valuable hands on training that will prepare them for future combat situations. Experiences like this validate and give deeper meaning to the phrase scattered all over the walls of the 391st squadron building, "Fortune favors the Bold...Tigers!"