Vermont Air Guard Says Last Of F-16s To Depart In April

158th Fighter Wing Air National Guard officials have announced that the last of the Vermont Air Guard’s F-16s will depart the base in April. Colonel David Smith says the F-16s 32-year history in Vermont ANG will end in April 2019. 

WCAX-TV Channel 3 in South Burlington reports at that point, the last of the Guard's planes will move to another Air Guard base. The first of the F-16s arrived at the base back in 1986. Smith says planes have been slowly sent away from the base over the past 12 months, and the Guard is working on a celebration for the F-16 send-off in April. Officials say the base is preparing for the arrival of F-35s in September.

USAF F-22/F-16 NYC Flyover

STUNNING VIDEO: A F-22 Raptor and F-16 Viper did a flyover New York City Thursday. They flew by One World Trade Center, the Statue of Liberty, and several other landmarks. http://7ny.tv/1hj6RBs. The planes were making their way to the New York Air Show.

Wild Weasels: First In, Last Out

U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons with the 35th Fighter Wing fly a training mission over Misawa Air Base, Japan, Feb. 14, 2013. The F-16 is the sixth generation aircraft of the Wild Weasels whose mission is the Suppression of Enemy Air Defenses, or SEAD. (Photo by Jake Melampy)

by Senior Airman Derek Van Horn  35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

MISAWA AIR BASE, Japan -- The roaring sound of an F-16 Fighting Falcon ripping through the sky leaves adversaries on the ground frozen in their tracks, bracing themselves as one of the most lethal machines on the planet nears their location. It's a helpless feeling opposing forces have endured for nearly 50 years as Wild Weasels have set the unmatchable standard of aerial supremacy worldwide.

Pilots from the 35th Fighter Wing execute the Suppression of Enemy Air Defense mission, and take pride carrying on the lineage of Wild Weasel units that date back to the Vietnam War. Their motto is "First In, Last Out", highlighting their willingness and confidence to lay their lives on the line and apply a relentless attack to defeat integrated air defense systems and see each mission through.

The 35 FW includes the 35th Operations Group, where both the 13th and 14th Fighter Squadrons operate and make up the wing's flying force. A rich history precedes both squadrons as both are instrumental in establishing and maintaining the status of the U.S. as the world's greatest air power.

Today, the SEAD mission is primarily carried out by F-16CM Block 50 Fighting Falcons, typically equipped with a state of the art HARM Targeting System pod, two High speed Anti-Radiation Missiles and a self-protection jammer. The jets are able to support numerous weapons variations, but Capt. Ryan Worrell, 35th Operations Support Squadron weapons and tactics flight commander and F-16 instructor pilot, said this configuration is the basic starting point for most SEAD missions.

Worrell said the fundamental origin of the Wild Weasel mission was created to protect strike aircraft from enemy surface-to-air missile sites in Vietnam that fired missiles from the ground in an effort to destroy aircraft or other airborne missiles. The Weasels would enter enemy territory to search for SAM sites and when the SAMs turned on they would shoot them before the site shot back.

This idea created the unofficial motto of the Wild Weasels -- an acronym known as "YGBSM." It was derived from the response of former B-52 Stratofortress Electronic warfare officer, Jack Donovan, upon hearing about the plan of the mission:

"You want me to fly in the back of a little tiny fighter aircraft with a crazy fighter pilot who thinks he's invincible, hone in on a SAM site in North Vietnam, and shoot it before it shoots me, you gotta be shittin' me!"

This approach gained momentum in 1967 at Udorn Royal Thai Air Force Base in Northern Thailand, where the Black Panthers of the 13th Tactical Fighter Squadron flew combat missions over the jungles of Vietnam. During the Vietnam War, the emersion of enemy SA-2 surface-to-air missile sites were a thorn in the side of American forces, downing handfuls of bomber aircraft early on in combat.

The SEAD mission originated when the Air Force devised a plan to use F-100 Super Sabres, and shortly thereafter F-105 Thunderchiefs, to cripple the presence of SAM sites across the country. By definition, SEAD was defensive and reactive in nature, but with the addition of specialized detection equipment to the jets, the F-105 models became a lethal system with an offensive approach.

AGM-45 Shrike missiles were added to the aircraft's arsenal, which were rocket-powered air-to-ground missiles designed to destroy radiating enemy radar transmitters. The Shrikes were equipped with radar energy sensors at the tip of the missile, capable of guiding on enemy locations and taking them out of the fight by kinetic strike.

During the tail end of Linebacker II, an 11-day air campaign over North Vietnam in 1972, the first all-out SEAD campaign was brought to the battlefield. The aircraft's mere presence over Vietnamese SAM sites was psychologically dominating, as operators on the ground preferred to remove themselves from the fight by turning their radars off rather than become a willing target.

"That's the baseline goal," Worrell said. "Once the radar is turned off, the enemy's missile loses connection with the site and is removed from the fight."

The diversity of Wild Weasels grew over time, and proved instrumental in opening air spaces for other aircraft as well as providing support for an array of missions. Five F-105 Wild Weasels were used in the famous Son Tay camp raid in 1970 to rescue prisoners of war.

Following the strides made in Vietnam, the 13 and 14 TFS remained at Udorn until 1975, when the 13 FS relocated to MacDill Air Force Base, Fla., before settling at Misawa Air Base, Japan, in 1985. The 14 FS followed suit to Misawa in 1987, where both fell under the 432nd Tactical Fighter Wing until 1994.

Wild Weasels then effectively wreaked havoc during the Persian Gulf War in Operation Desert Storm. By this time, the Air Force moved to F-4 Phantoms with significant technological upgrades that included an internal gun for dog fighting, upgraded Radar Warning Receivers and radar jamming capabilities. It was the only aircraft in the Department of Defense that was designed to identify, locate and destroy specific radar emitters coupled with the ability to fire sophisticated anti-radiation missiles.

According to the official history of the war, Wild Weasels flew nearly 4,000 sorties, fired 1,000 air-to-ground missiles, and destroyed roughly 200 Iraqi missile sites. The war was a success, ending swiftly in a matter of months while aggressively disassembling Saddam Hussein's regime. Pilots worked as teams; while one aircraft attracted a SAM site or enemy aircraft, others would soar in from other angles and eliminate threats ranging from MiG-29s to the same SA-2 missiles faced in Vietnam.

SEAD has evolved from protecting a two-ship fleet in its early years, to destroying the entire fabric of the Iraqi nation's ability to defend itself during Desert Storm.

The progress has never slowed, and the current set of Wild Weasels is now powered by F-16 Fighting Falcons with the some of the most dangerous technology available in combat. The cockpits have transitioned from hosting two pilots to one, with computer systems replacing the work - listening, identifying and targeting -- of the backseat flyer. Instead of flying the original two-ship set, Weasels typically fly four-ship sets. They've also moved from low altitude navigation and targeting infrared for night pods to the HTS pods that are able to identify, geo-locate, and display multiple targets within the area of responsibility to the pilot. This targeting system is the cornerstone of the SEAD mission, providing substantial situational awareness to pilots on the types and locations of surface-to-air defense radars, as well as passing ranging solutions to the HARM missile when launched.

"Over time, range detection and response time advancements have created a technologically superior force," Worrell said. "Previously, we were only able to detect a radar in a certain direction, but now we can range it in very specifically for targeting our HARM missiles."

While the mission set is primarily SEAD, Wild Weasels have also implemented various areas of Destruction of Enemy Air Defenses, or DEAD. Flying the four-ship formations, mixed load outs of both HARMs and GBU-38 Joint Direct Attack Munitions are employed. With the aid of Advanced Targeting Pods, the JDAMS are dropped on the enemy's radar systems, inflicting more permanent damage than only suppression. This method is used to clear larger lanes of radar sites to facilitate the follow-on of larger forces.

Additional technology upgrades have come in the form of the Link 16 datalink system that allows pilots split-second communication to and from other F-16s while simultaneously computing and sharing tactical pictures in near-real time. On top of the Link 16, the Joint Helmet-Mounted Cueing System also allows pilots the freedom to obtain situational awareness and cue weapon systems in the direction their head is pointed, instead of relying on the Heads Up Display.

These changes have drastically improved the situational awareness and capabilities of Wild Weasel pilots, and have allowed them to better prioritize targets and approach them from six to nine times the distances employed in Vietnam. These changes have molded the SEAD mission from one-on-one concepts of operation to integrated force application involving hundreds of aircraft, cruise missiles and artillery systems attacking an enemy IADS at once.

"The Wild Weasel mission supports the complete dismantling of the enemy's air defense," Worrell said. "By striking certain command centers and suppressing remaining radars, we're able to shut down a nation's entire IADS and ensure air superiority."

The Samurai of the 14 FS used these tactics over the skies of Iraq while supporting Operations Northern Watch, Southern Watch, and later during Operation Iraqi Freedom, where they executed "shock and awe" and employed massive air strikes that killed Iraq's comprehensive IADS. With the mission fulfilled, coalition forces followed on the ground and seized valuable territory throughout the country.

Most recently, F-16s applied the full SEAD mission by dismantling and destroying Libya's IADS during Operation Odyssey Dawn. Wild Weasels have also deployed to Southwest Asia in support of Enduring Freedom and other overseas contingency operations.

Credit to the modern-day success belongs to the original Wild Weasels who paved the way for today's aerial domination. They began as locaters and defenders, and have evolved into a sophisticated team force with a lethal approach to air superiority.

Air Force Announces F-16 Training Mission

The secretary and chief of staff of the Air Force announced today the transition of Holloman Air Force Base, N.M., to the F-16 training mission.

The Air Force determined that Holloman has the capacity to accept two F-16 training squadrons and offers ability to synergize training activities with MQ-1/9 training occurring on the same base.

Transitioning Holloman to F-16 training stabilizes an enduring training mission and capitalizes on the existing airspace and range complex.

Implementation of this action is subject to completion of appropriate environmental analysis

F-16 drawdown begins at Spangdahlem

by Senior Airman Kali L. Gradishar, 52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany (AFNS) -- Six F-16 Fighting Falcons are scheduled to depart here April 27 as the first step for the 52nd Fighter Wing staff in the Combat Air Force Restructuring plan expected to save the Air Force approximately $355 million in fiscal 2010 and $3.5 billion during the next five fiscal years.

An additional six aircraft are scheduled to depart the base April 30.

"The Combat Air Force Restructuring plan is an initiative to retire approximately 250 legacy fighters across the Air Force so we can use the savings from those retirements to reinvest; to build a capabilities-based bridge to our fifth generation fighter fleet," said Lt. Col. Aaron Piepkorn, the Spangdahlem Air Force Smart Operations for the 21st Century director and CAF Restructure project officer. "Basically, it takes the money and reinvests it back into fighters, bombers, and intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets, so they can upgrade their capabilities creating a smaller, more capable, more flexible, more lethal fighter force."

The CAF restructuring plan is intended to create a wave of savings in costs and manpower positions Air Force-wide.

The six aircraft are the first of 21 that are scheduled to depart the base. The remainder of the aircraft will depart in increments scheduled to be complete by the end of May as part of CAF restructuring. Twenty aircraft will transition to the 148th Fighter Wing with the Minnesota Air National Guard, while one F-16 will transfer to Edwards Air Force Base, Calif.

The newer Block 50 F-16s departing Spangdahlem AB will replace older aircraft at these installations.

"The airplanes that are leaving here are not retiring; they're replacing older airplanes that will retire," Colonel Piepkorn said. "So while 250 airplanes will retire in fiscal year 2010, the aircraft were losing from Spangdahlem will not retire because they're some of the newer F-16 Block 50s the Air Force has."

Additional plans include the joining of the two F-16 squadrons.

As a result of the drawdown of F-16s, the 22nd and 23rd Fighter Squadrons will transition to a single, slightly larger squadron.

One proposal is to inactivate both the 22nd and 23rd Fighter squadrons and rename the single squadron in accordance with historical precedence, Colonel Piepkorn said.

To ensure the CAF restructuring initiative runs smoothly, a number of agencies on base have been working together to plan for the drawdown of aircraft and manning positions.

The staff at U.S. Air Forces in Europe and the Air Staff have been very involved, Colonel Piepkorn said. "And here on base, it's been a variety of units to include the operations and maintenance groups getting the planes ready, as well as the manpower folks at the (52nd Force Support Squadron)."

Along with the reduction of aircraft, "approximately 500 manpower positions will be affected with military members either moving to another available position in the 52nd FW or relocating to another base. No U.S. or local national civilian positions will be reduced," said Capt. Erin Pinkston, the manpower and personnel flight commander.

Military members will depart when they were originally scheduled to, but there will be a reduced number of in-bound Airmen coming into the affected units during the next few years. This will enable the wing to meet the requirement to reduce manpower by approximately 500 positions, Captain Pinkston said.

174th Fighter Wing Conducts Final F-16 Fly-by

HANCOCK FIELD AIR NATIONAL GUARD BASE, SYRACUSE (02/19/20100--Aircrews and F-16-C Fighting Falcon aircraft from the New York Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing will mark their final scheduled fly-by in support of the AHL's first outdoor hockey game between the Syracuse Crunch and the Binghamton Senators at the New York State Fairgrounds on February 20, 2010 at 1 p.m.

After 22 years of flying the F-16 from Hancock Field, the 174th Fighter Wing is in the process of converting to the remotely piloted aircraft MQ-9 Reaper.

"Thank You" to all the people who've supported us all these years. It's been a privilege to fly the F-16 here in Syracuse", said Lt. Col. Sean McQuaid one of the pilots who will perform the unit's last scheduled F-16 fly-by.

For many decades, the New York Air National Guard's 174th Fighter Wing has supported military fly-bys from the New York State Fair to this year's opening of the new Yankee Stadium. The 174th Fighter Wing will stop flying the F-16 Fighting Falcon the first week of March.

The 174th Fighter Wing was formed on October 28, 1947 as the first post World War II Air National Guard flying unit in New York State.

Through the unit's 60+ year history, it has flown the P-47D Thunderbolt, F-84B Thunderjet, F-86H Sabre Jet, A-10 Warthog and F-16 Fighting Falcon. As of December 1st 2009, the unit was the first Air National Guard unit to fly continuous combat operations with the MQ-9 in support of Operation Enduring Freedom.

Red Flag-Alaska pilots engage in realistic combat scenarios

by Staff Sgt. Vann Miller, Red Flag-Alaska Public Affairs

F-16 Fighting Falcons sit on the tarmac late into the evening April 1 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Aircraft gathered together for Red Flag-Alaska 08-2. These aircraft are assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Snyder)

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska (AFPN) -- Aerial dog-fights between 10 or more jets and dodging simulated missiles may sound like a boss-level of a video game, but it's really the daunting experience of a combat pilot during the Exercise Red Flag-Alaska 08-2 that runs April 3 through 18 at Eielson Air Force Base.

Red Flag-Alaska is a Pacific Air Forces command-directed field training exercise that provides joint-offensive counter-air, interdiction, close-air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment.

"It's like a big helmet fire," said 1st Lt. Derick Cole from the 36th Fighter Squadron from Osan Air Base, South Korea. "You're reacting to threats out there -- 60 to 70 jets, radios going crazy and surface-to-air missiles. Being able to process all that information at one time becomes very challenging."

Red Flag exercises give members from various bases, branches of service and countries a chance to train in a realistic combat environment while giving aircrews and maintainers an opportunity to showcase their skills and warrior ethos.

"This training really prepares pilots for a full combat experience," Lieutenant Cole said.
As the fighters play the role of friendly or aggressor forces, the pilots get to really see just what kind of capabilities are at their fingertips.

"The airspace and real-world emitters just give us a training environment that you really can't get at our home station," Lieutenant Cole said.

Red Flag-Alaska hosts multiple airframes in order to create the most realistic war environment possible. In addition to the fighter aircraft, there are tankers, helicopters and airborne warning and control systems operating in the theater. But it is the high-flying and very maneuverable aircraft that get most of the attention.

Some of those contenders include the Navy's EA-6B Prowler, which is a long-range tactical aircraft, used for electronic warfare. Air Force pilots brought F-16 Fighting Falcons, the F-15 Eagles, and punching its way into the fight for the first time is the F-22 Raptor.

"I find this (training in Alaska) to be the most rewarding," said Navy Lt. Paul Tully from Whidbey Island Oak Harbor, Wash. "The Prowler supports both air and ground forces by denying radar and communications jamming."

Though Red Flag-Alaska has another week before all the training scenarios are complete, some pilots are disappointed the weather has cancelled some of the flights. Lieutenant Tully said three of his flights were cancelled due to nearly five inches of snow since the exercise started.

The exercise will continue as planned despite the snow and poor weather.

Maintainers remove snow and de-ice a Navy EA-6B Prowler for the first official day of Red Flag-Alaska 08-2 April 7 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Red Flag-Alaska provides training for deployed maintenance and support personnel in sustainment of a large-force deployed air operation. The EA-6B is assigned to the Naval Air Station Widbey Island, Wash. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Jonathan Snyder)

Aerial intercept training prepares warfighters

by Tech. Sgt. Steven Wilson, 36th Operations Group Public Affairs
An F-16 Fighting Falcon demonstrates its range of maneuverability during an aerial intercept exercise Sept. 24 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The F-16 C/D model is capable of withstanding up to nine Gs, or nine times the force of gravity, during combat maneuvers. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Mahmoud Rasouliyan)

-16 Fighting Falcon crews practiced rapid response situations during aerial intercept training held Sept. 24 at Andersen Air Force Base.

The training took advantage of deployed airframes present on the island, and the "hostiles" in the exercise were deployed KC-135 tankers simulating enemy aircraft.

"Although the Cold War is long over, and our mission has changed, we must continually adapt to new threats" said Col. Damian McCarthy, the 36th Operations Group commander. "This type of intercept training lets us remain proficient and vigilant in defending our critical resources and personnel."

"This exercise was designed to prepare 522nd Expeditionary Fighter Squadron members and Andersen permanent party for an aerial oriented defense scenario," said Capt. Jason Monaco, a 522nd EFS member. "The end goals were to train fighter pilots in alert, scramble and intercept tactics, to test the Andersen senior staff decision-making process and to exercise command-related issues."

The training was intense and very fast paced, said Capt. Vince O'Connor an F-16 pilot .

"When receiving the order to scramble, aircrews went from waiting in the alert facility to airborne within minutes," Captain O'Connor said. "Once airborne, we were directed by air traffic control to intercept the threat. We conducted an intercept at supersonic speed to get to the engagement as soon as possible.

"The highlight of this exercise, from a fighter pilot perspective, was training to an alert take off in very little time and completing an intercept at supersonic speeds," he said. "The ability to complete rapid and safe intercepts of hostile aircraft allows senior leaders to make timely decisions regarding our strategies to best deal with the bad guys."

The joint training exercises conducted here are aimed toward protecting America's interests, reassuring our friends and allies that we are committed to the region, and promoting stability throughout the Western Pacific Region, Colonel McCarthy said.

Two F-16 Fighting Falcons go "wheels-up" during aerial intercept training Sept. 24 at Andersen Air Force Base, Guam. The F-16 has proven itself as a highly maneuverable, low-cost and multi-mission capable weapons platform since it was added to the Air Force inventory in 1979. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Master Sgt. Mahmoud Rasouliyan)

F-16 Crashes in the Florida Straits

An F-16 Fighting Falcon from the Air Force Reserve Command's 482nd Fighter Wing here crashed about 11:05 a.m. EDT on 12 March 2007 approximately 75 miles south-southeast of Homestead in the Florida Straits. The aircraft was from the 93rd Fighter Squadron. At the time of the accident, it was flying a routine training mission. The pilot ejected safely and was successfully rescued.

First C-21 arrives in North Dakota

By 1st Lt. Penny Ripperger North Dakota Air National Guard

1/11/2007 - FARGO, N.D. (AFNEWS) -- The first official 119th Fighter Wing C-21 aircraft arrived Jan. 10 in Fargo.

The aircraft marks the unit's transition from the F-16 Fighting Falcon to the C-21 and MQ-1 Predator unmanned aerial vehicle.

"The Happy Hooligans have proven themselves as the best of the best in every mission they have been assigned," North Dakota Governor John Hoeven said. "The C-21 mission along with the new Predator mission will ensure that the North Dakota Air National Guard continues to play a vital role in the security of our state and nation."

"The 119th Fighter Wing will receive a total of eight C-21 aircraft and will be experiencing the largest transformation in their 60-year history," said Army Maj. Gen. David A. Sprynczynatyk, the state's National Guard adjutant general. "Personnel have been training diligently for the past year to ensure that they are prepared for these new missions that will ensure that our Air National Guard remains relevant and vital to the defense of the nation."

"The Happy Hooligans have prepared for the C-21 by having trained pilots and maintenance personnel ready to work on these aircraft," said Col. Robert Becklund, 119th Fighter Wing commander. "I am confident that we will continue to perform with the high standards and impressive work ethic that the Hooligans are already well-known for in the fighter community."

The C-21 aircraft is considered a "bridge mission" until approximately 2010 when it is expected to be replaced by the new joint cargo aircraft.

UAV operations are expected to begin at the Fargo base aroun March 2007. North Dakota will be one of five states where Air Guard units will operate the unmanned aerial vehicles; others are Texas, California, Arizona and New York.