Aug. 30, 2023 F-15EX employs Standoff Precision Guided Munitions, completes Integrated Test and Evaluation Phase 1 The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron recently validated the F-15EX Eagle II’s employment of the longest Air-to-Air and Air-to-Ground standoff munitions in the Department of Defense combat inventory.
Aug. 2, 2023 B-52 Operational Test and Weapons School form “Super Squadron” In an effort to expand operational test and accelerate capability to the warfighter, the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron and 340th Weapons Squadron have come together to form an integrated team focused on testing and developing tactics for un-fielded B-52 Stratofortress systems.
July 28, 2023 53rd Wing Welcomes New Commander The 53rd Wing welcomed Col. Daniel Lehoski while bidding farewell to Col. Matthew Bradley during a change of command ceremony on July 21, 2023. The ceremony was presided over by U.S. Air Force Warfare Center commander, Maj. Gen. Case Cunningham.
May 24, 2023 53rd Wing B-52 executes long-range mine test, advancing maritime capabilities in a contested environment A B-52H Stratofortress attached to the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron validated the ability to deploy inert Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) QuickStrike Extended Range (QS-ER) mines from a standoff distance of more than 40 miles off the coast of Kauai, Hawaii at the Pacific Missile Range
May 13, 2023 53rd Wing tests Angry Kitten Pod on MQ-9 and completes Full Integrated Combat Turn in record time The 556th Test and Evaluation Squadron completed the first round of MQ-9A Reaper ground and flight testing with the Angry Kitten ALQ-167 Electronic Countermeasures (ECM) Pod at Creech Air Force Base, Nevada Apr. 10-28, 2023.
April 26, 2023 53rd Wing completes Operational Testing of B-1B Sustainment Block-18 software The 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron completed the Field Development Evaluation (FDE) of Sustainment Block-18 (SB-18), a major software block upgrade providing new capabilities and improvements to the B-1B Lancer avionics suite, in late March, 2023.
April 11, 2023 53rd Wing uses Ex Black Flag to validate Tactical C2 capabilities for ground and air forces The 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron Command and Control (C2) Division built upon their previous work by expanding the use of a mobile C2 concept to include simultaneous operations from an airborne C-17 and a Mobile Tactical C2 vehicle during exercise Black Flag 23-1 in late February, 2023.
March 1, 2023 82nd ATRS Detachment 1 trains using QF-16 Vipers at Holloman On clear and sunny days, the orange-winged QF-16 Vipers can be seen soaring through the sky… sometimes on their way to be shot down during an exercise.
Feb. 16, 2023 29th Training Systems Squadron redesignated as 29th Test and Evaluation Squadron In order to better reflect its alignment with the 753rd Test and Evaluation Group within the 53rd Wing, the 29th Training Systems Squadron has been redesignated to the 29th Test and Evaluation Squadron, as of Feb. 16, 2023.
Jan. 30, 2023 53rd Wing’s MUSTANGS: the future of agile data capture and ACE capability The 59th Test and Evaluation Squadron hit major milestones in the development and testing of their Multi-Utilization Secure Tactical And Network Ground Station (MUSTANGS) through its recent participation in PACIFIC EDGE 22.