The 13th Fighter Squadron at Misawa AB, Japan, is the first F-16 unit to complete back-to-back Combat Archer and Combat Hammer weapon system evaluation programs. The 13th FS Vipers first flew Archer at Tyndall AFB, Fla., and went immediately to Hammer, flown out of Eglin AFB, Fla. The Misawa airmen also got the opportunity to train with F-15s from the 494th Fighter Squadron at RAF Lakenheath, UK. “Outside of combat, we can’t get this type of training anywhere else, and combining the two programs saves our unit a lot of time and money,” said Lt. Col. Steve Williams, 13th FS commander. Eglin’s 53rd Wing runs the WSEPs, which permit live weapon firing, which Williams said can’t be done in Japan. (53rd Wing report by SSgt. Samuel King Jr.)
A recent seven-day exercise sent Air Force F-22s—along with other USAF aircraft—to austere, challenging environments across Guam and the Northern Mariana Islands. Agile Reaper, taking place for the second time after its inaugural edition last year, featured 800 Airmen and 29 aircraft across five different locations from April 10-16, training…