The FS 555 that was published in Raf Lakenheath was published to obtain a millions of air weapons, and provide millions of dollars compared to the spread of Tyndall AFB or Hill AFB.
Eight of the F-16 of the 555 “Triple Nickel” fighter squadron, was appointed to the 31st Fighter Wing at Aviano Air Base, Italy, was published last week to Raf LakenheathUK, for life training. It is interesting that the US Air Force has identified the publication as Archer Archer UK, similar to the combat archer, or C (WSEP), which is hosted by Tyndall AFB, Florida, Hill AFB or UTAH.
The exercise, described as the largest exercise to evaluate the USAFE (WSEP) air weapons system, is to assess and enhance the beds of operating combatants for combat operations. “
Fighting of the United Kingdom
The fighting Archer UK aims to provide a comprehensive assessment of the killing series in a realistic combat environment for the fighter squadron 555, Air Force said. While published in Raf Lakenheth, F-16S will use a military training in Wales, Mod Abercberth in Kardanjan Bay, to conduct a direct shooting activity, as well Lake area To practice the trip at a low altitude while they are back.
It is worth noting that the Air Force said that “this repetition of the combat Archer will also merge the munitions, such as the AGR-20 FALCO laser missile, to practice the control of drones in one direction.” This was also confirmed by the photos taken by our shareholder Stewart Jack, who shows one of the Affiano F-16S leaving Lakenheath with both AGR-20S and NatM-9M.
The latter is a special missile for AIM-9M Sidewinder, whose tactical war head was replaced by inactive warheads, while using the original missile engine. This allows the weapon to shoot like a serpent, without the explosion as soon as it affects the target.
F-16s has been published in Centcom (Central Command) AOR AGR-20Also known as APKWS II, in the air floor to air against Houthi drones and Cruise missiles on the Red Sea since 2024. It was interesting that the leak of the triple niche sister, the 510 “Pod Park”, was the first to use the AGR-20 to fight in the air floor to the air.
During the fighting arish uk, weapons are employed against “uninhabited systems”. In the Royal Air Force missions within the Mod Aberport, it is said that the goal of the choice is the MiRach 100-5, run by QINETIQ under the service of the joint air target (CATS), although it is unknown if the USAF is using the same service, according to A. The last story about F-16 Aviano Written by Frank Krebas and Rich Cooper to Aircraft fighting magazine.
There are a number of Aviano F-16s currently in Raf Lakenheth One with a special tail, most likely Ginnis 15 yesterday [USAF Pic] pic.twitter.com/wiow37vr7k
– Saint1 (@Saint1Mil) April 10, 2025
Arms Evaluation Program
WSeps aims to provide an opportunity to exercise and employ arms and employ them in the relevant operational scenarios. The main goals are two: providing the crews with pilots and crew with the experience of real words in Dealing with living weapons and release themTTPS and weapons performance evaluation.
General James B. Hacker, the leader of the Usafe-AFAFRICA: “By simulating links in the real world, the fighting ensures that the crew and maintenance staff are prepared for actual combat scenarios.” “This approach allows a full assessment of the arms system from start to finish. It will look at how to store and transport weapons. How our ammunition professionals build and download them on aircraft.
It enables an opportunity to lift weapons for the converts to define any weapons issues that may arise from the moment when the weapon leaves the transport fund to the moment it affects the target. After that, it will be treated by ammunition professionals, which increases TTPS improvement, if necessary.
Also, WSEPS allows the Air Force to verify the health of the new tactics and study, in the integrity of the training environment, technologies and technologies to ensure their willingness to provide them in combat tasks. Wseps is usually held in Tyndall AFBFlorida, Hill AFB, Utah, because they have remote measurement systems required to record all data about missile behavior during the flight.
This is a terrible plane 😎
It is great to pick up F16 from the 555 squadron of AViano Air Force Base in Raf Lakenheath while participating in Archer Combat 🇮🇹🇺🇸🇬🇧 pic.twitter.com/a8GE8Eysng
– Strix (@strixphotos) photos April 12, 2025
Cost reduction
The service stressed that “by hosting the Archer Archer UK in Europe, Europe saved the US Air Force millions of dollars, allowing them to boost the mission while staying on the right side of the cost curve.” In fact, F-16S flying from Italy to the United States will require large quantities of fuel and Aircraft supportAnd the air force said, “It can be expensive.”
General Hacker said: “The European Liability Exercise provides great strategic advantages, which reduces the need for via Atlantic aircraft movements and results in great cost savings.”
Amid new budget discounts and financial restrictions, the Air Force adopts a new strategy to reduce costs to make training more efficient and affordable to reduce quality. The new WSeps in the European continent is likely to be among the measures listed in this strategy.
AGR-20 FALCO
APKWS II (Advanced Micro Element System for II) was used for several years by the US Air Force, with AGR-20 set [(A) Air-launched (G) Surface-attack (R) Rocket]First in the missile from the air to the ground and now in the air floor to the air, specifically Uninhabited anti -airspace.
AGR-20 APKWS II is a conversion from Hydra 70 unguided missiles Which adds a laser guidance group to the baseline weapon, and turns it into a precision -guided ammunition (PGM). By adding a counseling section between the 10 -head warheads with a 10 -pound at the front of the missile and the MK66 MD 4 missile engine at the back, the US Air Force managed to obtain low -cost smart ammunition, which costs $ 33,000, which can be used instead of more expensive options.
The APKWS steering section includes four folding wings with the optics of the laser -installed laser researcher, which is called a semi -active laser researcher (DASALS), with a spacious show that allows the involvement of both moving and fixed targets. “There are no required amendments to the missiles, the shooting platform or fire control system,” says Bae Systems, which produces the weapon, as the only well-known amendment was the longest alternative to the Lau-131/A 7 Rocket launcher usually used by the US Air Force, named Lau-131 A/A/A (The Navy-20 with AGR-20 with Lau-68 F/a).
35 TES Test and Evaluation (TES) first It was tested APKWS II in the air floor to the air on December 19, 2019, a sub-drone was shot down in evidence of the demonstration demonstration that witnessed the F-16 launching the missile and directing it to the target with the targeting pod. The weapons system underwent a fixed wing, which was launched Air, and the FALCO anti -aircraft upgrade program aimed at improving the capabilities of UAS.
AGR-20 FALCO is an upgrade on APKWS II, which includes software promotions to increase weapons in air links to the air against UAS. This alternative is currently sent in Centcom AOR and, according to Maritime newsIt is used with a high probability of killing.
Falco was a response to the emerging operational need, and after its publication smoothly, it enabled a great improvement in the US Air Force’s counter capabilities.
Bae Systems has revealed new Infrared student for APKWS IIIn addition to current laser instructions, which makes this a dual weapon. The new IR student relies on the new Falco capabilities, which improves more C-RAS capabilities.