Dec. 23, 2019 F-16 downs target drone with laser guided rocket in unprecedented test The 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron shot down a subscale drone using an AGR-20A Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) laser-guided rocket on December 19, 2019, providing a proof of concept for using rockets queued from an F-16 targeting pod as viable munitions to perform cruise missile
Nov. 22, 2019 Former member of the 36th EWS, WWII vet, awarded French Legion of Honor James P. Ostler, age 99, a former member of the 36th Bombardment Squadron, was awarded the Legion of Honor Medal from France in a November 21, 2019 Ceremony in Arlington Heights, Ill. for his efforts in WWII as a navigator on the B-17.
Nov. 19, 2019 85th TES flies over the Miami Dolphins' stadium U.S. Air Force F-15C Pilots, Capt. Aaron Eshkenazi and Maj. Jonah Brown and F-16 Pilots, Lt. Col. Matthew Russell and Maj. Robert Glenn, from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron, Eglin AFB, Fla. prepare to fly over the Miami Dolphins' stadium on November 17, 2019. The flyover was part of the NFL's
Oct. 30, 2019 Goodbye Edwards, hello Nellis Edwards Air Force Base, California, said farewell to six of its F-35 Lightning II’s in October. The F-35s were transferred to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to continue initial operational testing.
Oct. 4, 2019 The 85th TES releases a JASSM-ER in test sortie An F-16 Fighting Falcon piloted by Lt. Col. Mike May from the 85th Test and Evaluation squadron sits on the ramp at Eglin Air Force Base on October 2, 2019 with a JASSM-ER. The 85th TES released the extended range missile as part of an operational test sortie. (U.S. Air Force Photo by 1st Lt Savanah
Oct. 4, 2019 Offutt restores training capabilities with new simulator A new aircrew training device is being built as part of an effort to replace the three ATDs destroyed in the March flood.
Oct. 1, 2019 Tyndall hosts Combat Archer: Evaluation through integration, employment The 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron conducted a Combat Archer exercise Sept. 16-27 on base.Combat Archer is part of the 53rd Wing’s Weapons System Evaluation Program and the Department of Defense’s largest air-to-air live fire missile employment exercise.
Sept. 25, 2019 Revitalizing the Squadron: The 81st RCS reactivates as an Air Control Squadron As a formal recognition of the hard work and efforts of the 53d Wing Airmen at Tyndall Air Force Base in the 81st Range Control Squadron, the 81st RCS deactivated, then reactivated as the 81st Air Control Squadron during a ceremony on September 23, 2019.
Aug. 6, 2019 B-1B and B-52 visit the 53d Wing at Eglin AFB While conducting operational test sorties in the area members of the 337th Test and Evaluation Squadron from Dyess AFB and the 49th Test and Evaluation Squadron from Barksdale AFB displayed a B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress at Eglin Air Force Base on July 30, 2019.