USAF and Canadian forces completed the largest-ever Combat Hammer air-to-ground weapons systems evaluation earlier this month, featuring A-10 Warthogs from Davis-Monthan AFB, Ariz., B-52 bombers from Barksdale AFB, La., and CF-18 Hornets from Cold Lake AB, Canada. The participants gathered at Eglin AFB, Fla., utilizing the base’s western range, where they dropped more than 40 precision-guided weapons, according to an Eglin news release. Besides evaluating man and machine, the WSEP provides “invaluable” combat experience, said Maj. Chris Bridges, with Eglin’s 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
