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Gunfighters train with Hill F-35s during Combat Archer, Hammer

F-15E Strike Eagles from the 389th Fighter Squadron on the ramp, Aug. 15, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 389th FS from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, was at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapons System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

F-15E Strike Eagles from the 389th Fighter Squadron on the ramp, Aug. 15, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 389th FS from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, was at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapons System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

(Left to right) Senior Airman Timothy Sherman, Airman 1st Class Corey Conner and Staff Sgt. Brandon Bennett, 389th Fighter Squadron, recover an F-15E Strike Eagle Aug. 15, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 389th FS at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, were at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapons System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

(Left to right) Senior Airman Timothy Sherman, Airman 1st Class Corey Conner and Staff Sgt. Brandon Bennett, 389th Fighter Squadron, recover an F-15E Strike Eagle Aug. 15, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 389th FS at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, were at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapons System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

Airman Jarret Smith, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and a pilot from the 4th Fighter Squadron, exchange salutes before a training sortie, Aug. 8, 2018, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Airmen and F-35s from the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB participated in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

Airman Jarret Smith, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, and a pilot from the 4th Fighter Squadron, exchange salutes before a training sortie, Aug. 8, 2018, Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Airmen and F-35s from the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB participated in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

(Left to right) Staff Sgt. Nathan West, Airman 1st Class Benjamin Albert and Senior Airman Kasey Clark, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, load target munitions on an F-35A Lightning II Aug. 8, 2018, a Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Airmen and F-35s from the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB participated in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

(Left to right) Staff Sgt. Nathan West, Airman 1st Class Benjamin Albert and Senior Airman Kasey Clark, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, load target munitions on an F-35A Lightning II Aug. 8, 2018, a Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Airmen and F-35s from the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB participated in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

(Left to right) Airman 1st Class Kayla Lewis and Staff Sgt. Adam Selmon, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, load target munitions on an F-35A Lightning II Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Airmen and F-35s from the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB participated in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

(Left to right) Airman 1st Class Kayla Lewis and Staff Sgt. Adam Selmon, 388th Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, load target munitions on an F-35A Lightning II Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Airmen and F-35s from the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB participated in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

An F-35A Lightning II from the 4th Fighter Squadron prepares to depart on a training sortie Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Airmen and F-35s from the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB participated in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

An F-35A Lightning II from the 4th Fighter Squadron prepares to depart on a training sortie Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. Airmen and F-35s from the active-duty 388th Fighter Wing and Reserve 419th Fighter Wing at Hill AFB participated in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

Senior Airman Deandre Moment, 389th Fighter Squadron, directs an F-15E Strike Eagle returning from a training mission Aug. 15, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 389th FS at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, were at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapons System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)   (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

Senior Airman Deandre Moment, 389th Fighter Squadron, directs an F-15E Strike Eagle returning from a training mission Aug. 15, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 389th FS at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, were at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapons System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar) (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

Maj. Nick Tsougas and Capt. Wes Noyes, 389th Fighter Squadron, return training mission Aug. 15, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. F-15E Strike Eagles and Airmen from the 389th FS at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, were at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapons System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

Maj. Nick Tsougas and Capt. Wes Noyes, 389th Fighter Squadron, return training mission Aug. 15, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. F-15E Strike Eagles and Airmen from the 389th FS at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, were at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapons System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

(Left to right) Senior Airman Jeremy Watson and Tech. Sgt. Darian Willis, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, reposition an ammo cart for loading target rounds on an F-16, Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 482nd AMXS from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., was at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

(Left to right) Senior Airman Jeremy Watson and Tech. Sgt. Darian Willis, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, reposition an ammo cart for loading target rounds on an F-16, Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 482nd AMXS from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., was at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

Staff Sgt. Richard Montalvan, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, loads target rounds on an F-16, Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 482nd AMXS from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., was at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)
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Staff Sgt. Richard Montalvan, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, loads target rounds on an F-16, Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 482nd AMXS from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., was at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

(Left to right) Tech. Sgt. Darian Willis, Senior Airman Jeremy Watson and Staff Sgt. Richard Montalvan, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepare to load target rounds on an F-16 Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 482nd AMXS from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., was at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)
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(Left to right) Tech. Sgt. Darian Willis, Senior Airman Jeremy Watson and Staff Sgt. Richard Montalvan, 482nd Aircraft Maintenance Squadron, prepare to load target rounds on an F-16 Aug. 8, 2018, at Hill Air Force Base, Utah. The 482nd AMXS from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., was at Hill AFB to participate in the Air Force’s Weapon System Evaluation Program known as Combat Hammer. (U.S. Air Force photo by Todd Cromar)

HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --

The 388th and 419th Fighter Wings recently completed two exercises over three weeks here known as Combat Hammer and Combat Archer from Aug. 6-24 as part of the Air Force’s annual Weapons System Evaluation Program.

 

Evaluators from the WSEP team assessed Hill’s weapons crews, maintainers, and pilots to ensure they build, load, and employ the weapons properly. The team also evaluated a variety of air-to-ground and air-to-air missiles to include laser-guided smart bombs, GPS-guided joint direct attack munitions, and medium-range and heat-seeking missiles.

 

Joining Hill’s F-35s for the exercise were F-15E Strike Eagles from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, and F-16 Fighting Falcons from Homestead Air Reserve Base, Fla., and Nellis AFB, Nev. This is the second year Hill’s F-35s have participated.

 

“We’re taking a close look at processes and procedures ‘from cradle to grave’ for each munition and testing the skills of weapons crews and pilots during scenarios that replicate wartime,” said Lt. Col. Kevin Williams of the WSEP team. “We want to ensure the weapons are operating as advertised and that everyone who touches them are doing it by the book.”

 

The team also reviewed each pilot’s in-flight footage and data recorders to see whether they dropped weapons within the parameters spelled out during pre-flight mission planning, Williams said. The highly advanced “smart” weapons also provide data inputs and indicators that can be reviewed after they are dropped to give evaluators an inside look at their performance.

 

“It’s always a good thing to have new sets of eyes on us as we carry out the mission,” said Senior Master Sgt. Brandon Goodwin, superintendent for the 466th Aircraft Maintenance Unit. “Given the nature of what we do, we have to be absolutely certain that both the people and weapons are ready when the time comes.”

 

This year, the second for Hill’s F-35s to participate, marked two significant milestones for the program. The jet fired the AIM-9X, an advanced heat-seeking air-to-air missile, for the first time and delivered weapons using upgraded 3F software that allows the missile to be mounted on the jet externally.  

 

“It’s been awesome to see the advancements in the program in just a little over a year,” said 1st Lt. Keith Gregorcyk, assistant OIC for the 4th AMU. “We’ve gone from being able to launch only several munitions from the internal stores to now being able to fully load the aircraft with external AIM-9Xs. We’re making fast progress, and with the new software we’re really beginning to see what the F-35 can do.”

 

In total, the participating units built, loaded, and dropped 147 bombs and 18 missiles over the Utah Test and Training Range west of Hill AFB. 

 

Hill AFB is slated to be home to three operational F-35A fighter squadrons with a total of 78 aircraft by the end of 2019. The first operational F-35As arrived at Hill in September 2015. The active duty 388th FW and Air Force Reserve 419th FW will fly and maintain the jet in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both components.

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