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Green Flag East prepares 55th FS for future adversaries with real-world threat systems

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Katherine Holt
  • 2nd Bomb Wing Public Affairs
LEESVILLE, La --  Green Flag East made history using real-world threat surface to air missile systems, the SA 8 transport eject launcher radar and the SA 6 radar, in its most recent joint exercise here, Jan. 18-21.

"We executed multiple scenarios in a contested environment to establish air superiority and fight our way with ground units," said Lt. Col. Christopher Claus, 55th Fighter Squadron commander. "This new training keeps our team fighting faster, smarter and more prepared. We train hard to stay on the winning side."

The two, former soviet union systems gave 25 F-16 Fighting Falcon pilots from the 55th Fighter Squadron, a taste of what they will likely encounter with future adversaries.

"Despite their age, these systems are still prominent and widely-deployed," said Frank Pugliese, 46th Test Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla. "We were able to give pilots visual opportunities and operate the systems in a way that is threat representative."

With the physical SA systems on site, pilots were able to see the actual opposition forces they work against instead of plain electronic signatures.

"You want to fight and fly against what you will be going up against," said Pugliese. "We were able to perform realistic scenarios that provided training tactics and procedures for all participants to draw from."

Though the systems like the SA 6 and SA 8 have not been used to combat air superiority in decades, they are still a threat for the future.

"We grew up in the Afghanistan and Iraq wars," said Tech. Sgt. Thomas Jenn, 19th Air Support Operations Squadron, Ft. Campbell, Ky., brigade NCO in charge. "We grew up in a counter insurgency mission in countries with no air defense systems. Now, we are gearing up for the more military and technologically advanced adversary we may encounter in the near future."

This exercise provided pilots with the unique capability to interact with ground forces to provide close air support and take out any systems trying to prevent the movement of troops.

"This validated all the hard work and training we put in at home station," said Claus. "We provided one fluid operation keeping a high pace and strong presence on the enemy while seamlessly flowing from one mission set to another.

"Exercises like this one are a confidence builder," said Col. Shaun McGrath, 20th Operations Group commander. "It allows us to truly execute our number one priority -combat mission readiness."