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Shaw hosts Operation Iron Thunder

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
More than 100 aircraft from four branches of the U.S. military and NATO forces participated this week in Operation Iron Thunder, hosted by Shaw’s 77th Fighter Squadron.

The exercise offered a chance for players to be exposed to missions identical to those faced in combat. Participating aircraft included AV-8B, A-10, F-14, F-15C, F-15E, F-16CJ, F-18E, F-22A fighters. Other support aircraft were AT-38C, C-17, E-2C, E-3A, E-3C, E-3D, EA-6B, E-8, KC-10, KC-135 and RC-135, said Capt. Kevin Pugh, 77th FS F-16 pilot.

"Operation Iron Thunder is a large force exercise similar to Red Flag," he said. "The aircraft simulated a full-scale invasion of the North Carolina coast. Iron Thunder's airspace reached from 225 nautical miles off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla., and stretched roughly to 250 nautical miles off the coast of Norfolk, Va. Realistic air and surface threats were simulated during the exercise."

Some aircraft traveled across oceans to partake in the operation.

"U.S., British and NATO units came from over 30 different Air Force, Army, Navy and Marine units," Capt. Pugh said. "U.S. participation included units from as far west as Washington state and as far east as Europe. Non-U.S. participation included British and NATO squadrons from Royal Air Force Waddington, United Kingdom, and Geilenkirchen Air Base, Germany."

South Carolina's participants included the 77th, 55th and 79th Fighter Squadrons and aircraft maintenance units, along with the 682nd Air Support Operations Squadron (as well as) the 14th Airlift Squadron from Charleston Air Force Base, S.C. Three E-3 and one KC-135 aircraft also deployed to Shaw in support of the exercise.

"This was an excellent opportunity for our F-16 units here to work together in large-force scenarios," said Lt. Col. Donavan Godier, 77th FS commander.
"This was one of the only exercises that included both the Navy's older F-14 Tomcat, which is slated for retirement in September, and the Air Force's new F-22A Raptor," Capt. Pugh said.

Marines based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., boarded C-17s stationed at Charleston AFB each morning prior to the exercise, he said. After rendezvousing with other friendly forces, multiple C-17s skimmed the Atlantic Ocean before heading back to drop zones along the North Carolina coast to insert the Marines.

On the ground, Army and Air Force units controlled more than 50 fighters daily, which were flying close air support missions in southern Georgia and coastal North Carolina, Capt. Pugh said.

"Operation Iron Thunder was an invaluable opportunity for pilots to sharpen and hone critical skills in preparation for future contingency operations," he said. "In addition, other American and European air and ground units had the opportunity to train the way we would all fight if called upon."

The 77th FS commander agreed.

"The men and women of the 20th Fighter Wing expect to be called upon to deliver combat-ready forces focused on gaining and maintaining air superiority in support of the joint scheme of maneuver," Col. Godier said. "As a premier counterair wing in the combined air forces, our Airmen not only enable the joint force, but are also capable of attacking the enemy at his center of gravity.

"The integration of the F-16CJ, F-15C and F-22A gives our nation and our allies a decisive advantage in the counter-air arena," he said.

Col. Godier explained how Iron Thunder made Shaw a one-of-a-kind base.
"Iron Thunder also gave us a chance to display our capabilities as the CAFs’ first joint air-to-surface standoff missile capable fighter wing," he said. "Our pilots pushed out on the leading edge of large packages, employed the long range JASSM and then executed combined tactics with the F-15Cs and the F-22As that enabled the rest of the force to execute their primary missions. Iron Thunder is perfect for the CAF -- it’s a great example of seamless service integration and flawless joint execution."