Image: Air Force Staff Sgt. Ashley Talley via U.S. DoW
Two US Air Force fighter squadrons have completed combat certification after a two-week air and missile training exercise with the Royal Air Force. Exercise Combat Archer UK 26 concluded on 24 July at RAF Lakenheath, certifying the 492nd and 493rd Fighter Squadrons for combat operations.
US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa led the exercise, working alongside RAF F-35B Lightning jets. An evaluation unit paired with active fighter squadrons to certify pilots and ground crews. The 351st Aerial Refueling Squadron from RAF Mildenhall provided support, while the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron from Tyndall Air Force Base ran the evaluation.
The exercise centred on air-to-air weapons system evaluation, testing high-end combat readiness for global operations. Air Force policy requires operational units to certify in air-to-air weapons employment before undertaking real-world missions.
Air Force Lt. Gen. Jason Hinds, commander of US Air Forces in Europe and Air Forces Africa, commented: “Exercises like Combat Archer U.K. 26 ensure tactical proficiency, readiness of our maintainers and operators and confidence in the weapon system,” as per a recent press statement.
Ground crews built, loaded and armed munitions, while pilots planned payloads for realistic combat scenarios. Training culminated in live fire exercises, with pilots engaging airborne targets. Air Force Capt. Thomas Holmes, a 493rd Fighter Squadron pilot, added there is “no substitute” for this kind of live training experience.
RAF F-35 jets flew beyond-visual-range weapons scenarios, aligning allied tactics and deepening operational trust. The 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron used traceable air-to-air missiles to gather real-time telemetry, feeding data to engineers working to improve aircraft and munition guidance systems.
The exercise integrated US 4th- and 5th-generation fighters with RAF aircraft, testing allied forces’ ability to sustain combined combat operations.
Learn more on the U.S. Department of War website
