The 53d Weapons Evaluation Group (53d WEG) is an Air Combat Command tenant organization that reports to the 53d Wing, Eglin Air Force Base, FL. The WEG is comprised of five squadrons and two detachments: 53d Test Support Squadron, 81st Air Control Squadron, 82nd Aerial Targets Squadron, and 83d Fighter Weapons Squadron, all located at Tyndall; 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, located at Hill AFB, UT; Det. 1, 82 ATRS, located at Holloman AFB, NM; and Det. 1, 86 FWS located at Eglin. The group conducts the Air Force air-to-air and air-to-ground Weapon System Evaluation Programs, known as WSEP East (Tyndall AFB) and WSEP West (Hill AFB), under CAF Plan 53. The 53d WEG supports Nuclear WSEP under COMACC Plan 001 and AFGSC/CC Plan 001. It also supports Weapons Instructor Course (WIC) air-to-air formal training syllabi under COMACC Plan 92. Unit personnel provide all USAF aerial target support for DoD and international partners in the Eglin-Gulf ranges and full-scale targets for Title 10 testing on White Sands Missile Range near Holloman.
The 53d Test Support Squadron (53d TSS) is responsible for technical and staff functions in support of Air Force's air-to-air and air-to-ground operational test programs to include the Weapon System Evaluation Program and other DOD weapons tests. They also provide technical, engineering, acquisition, logistics, data automation/local area network, system configuration control and strategic planning support for the 53d WEG, including program management of all Gulf Range air-to-air systems, range control systems, aerial targets (full-scale/subscale) systems and payloads, missile scoring and data analysis telemetry, and communications systems.
The 81st Air Control Squadron (ACS), “WETSTONE Control,” is the USAF Warfare Center’s only assigned Air Control Squadron. The 81 ACS is tasked to provide battle management command & control (BMC2) to test, evaluation, and training operations in the Gulf of Mexico region, and is the Department of Defense’s only active-duty squadron authorized to provide BMC2 to live-fire testing and evaluation of air-to-air weapons systems. Annually, the 81 ACS integrates BMC2 capabilities with over 1500 Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP) sorties and over 350 live air-to-air missile firings. Additionally, as Air Combat Command’s only ACS in the Gulf of Mexico region, the 81 ACS provides BMC2 to a myriad of diverse mission sets. Annually, the 81 ACS integrates with over 4400 test and training sorties to include: fighter and C2 aircraft operational test and evaluation (OT&E) missions, 325 Fighter Wing, 33 Fighter Wing, Florida, Louisiana, Alabama, and Mississippi Air National Guard combat training sorties, the MC-130/AC-130 Weapons School, and large force exercises such as, CHECKERED FLAG, SKULL WARS, QUICKDRAW, and SENTRY SAVANNAH. Finally, the 81 ACS provides unique threat-representative adversary control for T-38 and Contract Red-Air sorties flying as adversaries to Fifth-Generation fighter training, and large force exercises.
The 82d Aerial Targets Squadron (82d ATRS) at Tyndall and Holloman AFB (Detachment 1) operates the Department of Defense's only full-scale aerial target program, maintaining an inventory of 24 modified QF-16 Fighting Falcon aircraft for this purpose. The 82d provides target support for the Air Force Weapon System Evaluation Program (WSEP), the Air Force Weapons Instructor Course (WIC), and to Air Force, Navy and Army customers for developmental and operational tests. The squadron also maintains three 120-foot drone recovery vessels and two smaller patrol vessels to recover aerial and support range safety and salvage operations. Squadron aircrew also operate the Air Force's only two DeHavilland E-9A "Widget" airborne surveillance/telemetry relay aircraft. These aircraft provide ocean surface surveillance and relay missile and target telemetry for over-the-horizon coverage of the Eglin / Gulf Ranges. The squadron is a mix of highly experienced active-duty and civilian Air Force and contract personnel. Detachment 1, 82 ATRS, Holloman AFB, New Mexico, operates and maintains a portion of the QF-16 full-scale aerial target fleet for use on the White Sands Missile Range. In addition to Air Force programs such as the F-22, AMRAAM, AIM-9X, and F-35 the detachment supports US Army, Navy and foreign military surface-to-air programs.
The 83d Fighter Weapons Squadron conducts the USAF Combat Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP) East. The squadron evaluates the total air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons system including aircraft, weapon delivery system, weapon, aircrew, support equipment, technical data and maintenance actions. The squadron hosts nearly 40 WSEP deployments annually at Tyndall. The annual events serve to evaluate all USAF air-to-air weapons (AIM-120, AIM-9 and guns) and also provides live missile training for CAF crews as an important secondary objective. Squadron personnel verify weapon system performance, determine reliability, evaluate capability and limitations, identify deficiencies, recommend corrective action, and maintain CAF-wide data. The squadron investigates missile envelopes and evaluates capabilities and limitations to determine future firing requirements. It provides liaison support for pre-deployment, employment and redeployment of ACC, USAFE, PACAF, ANG, USAFR, and foreign air forces participating in WSEP and WIC missile firing programs.
The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron (Hill AFB, UT) conducts the USAF Combat Weapons Systems Evaluation Program (WSEP) West. The 86th evaluates total air-to-air and air-to-ground weapons systems including aircraft, weapon delivery system, weapon, aircrew, support equipment, technical data, and maintenance actions. The squadron hosts an average of 25 evaluations annually, primarily out of Hill AFB, UT, and evaluates the reliability, maintainability, suitability, and accuracy of operationally fielded precision-guided and high-technology weapons against realistic targets protected by realistic enemy defenses. WSEP West identifies weapons system and training deficiencies and provides recommendations for corrective action directly to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Additionally, the squadron maintains the DOD’s comprehensive database on PGM performance and investigates capabilities and limitations of currently fielded PGMs. Weapons assessed include: GBU-10, -12, -24, -27, -28, -31, -32, -38, -39, -49, and -54; CBU-103 and -105; EGBU-15; and AGM-130, -65, -86, -88, -114, -154 and -158. Combat WSEP West provides liaison support for pre-deployment, employment, and re-deployment of ACC, USAFE, PACAF, ANG, and AFRES forces participating in the exercise and conducts investigative firings of air-to-ground PGMs to address CAF employment issues and support ongoing OT&E efforts.