Combat Hammer tests air-to-ground bombing capabilities, gets pilots experience

  • Published
  • By Andrea Houck
  • Team Hill Public Affairs
HILL AIR FORCE BASE, Utah --  Residents around Hill Air Force Base may have noticed an increase in aircraft arrivals as well as a diverse group of aircraft flying west to the Utah Test and Training Range April 29-May 13.

Four units deployed to Hill AFB and six units traveled directly to the UTTR to drop munitions in realistic combat scenarios for the Combat Hammer weapons system evaluation program. Nearly 120 precision-guided weapons were dropped, including laser-guided bombs, joint direct attack munitions and AGM-65 Maverick missiles.
With support from the 388th Range Squadron, Airmen from the 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron spent months preparing for the program to gather, review and evaluate the effectiveness of weapons systems scenarios and their suitability for use in combat.
Combat Hammer examines more than just the final result of a bomb hitting a target. According to Lt. Col. Jay Sabia, 421 Fighter Squadron Director of Operations, the exercise provides the unique opportunity to validate not only the reliability of the weapons, but also the training of both maintenance and operations Airmen.

"Combat Hammer is about gathering air-to-ground weapons system data and all aspects are evaluated from the cradle-to-the-grave," said Lieutenant Colonel Sabia.

Ultimately, Combat Hammer builds confidence in our systems and training and ensures the Air Force is ready to deliver effective combat air power to combatant commanders, said Lieutenant Colonel Sabia.

"I'm very proud of our Airmen's performance. From the building of the weapons, to the loading and preparing of the aircraft, and culminating in the weapons' lethal employment, the outstanding results of the exercise prove the 388th Fighter Wing is ready for combat," said Lieutenant Colonel Sabia.

In the months following this program, Airmen will research and analyze the precision weapons data and the performance results will be utilized by Air Combat Command commanders and other deployed Commanders. The entire analysis and evaluation process takes nearly three months before a final report is issued.

To the former 455th Expeditionary Operations Group Commander and now 388th Fighter Wing Commander, Col. Scott Long, this year's mission was quite a success.

"This Combat Hammer weapons system evaluation program was one of the best performances ever by the wing. It proves to be a great way to get pilots the experience they need, because simulation really doesn't compare to actual combat training," said Colonel Long.

The two-week exercise is an effective way for pilots and maintainers, to evaluate the results of their training and an even better way to anticipate how they would employ the weapon in combat.

The Combat Hammer participating units included the following: F-16CMs from Hill's 421st Fighter Squadron; F-15Es from Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C.; F-22s from Langley AFB, Va.; F-15Es from Eglin AFB, Fla., and F-18s from China Lake NAWS, Calif. Additionally, B-52s from Minot AFB, N.D. participated from their home stations.

The next Combat Hammer weapons system evaluation program is scheduled to be held Aug. 15-26 at Hill Air Force Base.