Tigers meet Lions
At this moment, United States Air Force (USAF) F-16CM Fighting Falcons from the 79th Fighter Squadron Tigers, normally based at Shaw AFB (SC) and Fuerza Aérea Colombiana (FAC, Colombian Air Force) Escuadrón de Combata 111 Dardos Kfir COA and Kfir COD fighter aircraft are partnering bilateral missions from Comando Aereo de Combate Number 5 (CACOM 5) in Rionegro during Exercise Relámpago VI in and over Colombia.
During mid-July 2021, six F-16 Fighting Falcons along with personnel from Shaw rapidly integrated into the Colombian theatre to conduct missions from CACOM 5, together with several Kfir fighters, normally based at Palanquero air base, in the middle of Colombia.
Being transformed to the 79th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, it is expected that the F-16s will be deployed for a month and will practice close air tactics, fighter fundamentals, and advanced tactics. The flying conducted during Relámpago VI will include cooperative training on Basic Fighter Manoeuvering (BFM) and Air Combat Manoeuvering (ACM) throughout the month of July and beginning of August.
The USAF and FAC have a longstanding relationship. During July 2018, six FAC Kfirs flew to the United States to participate in the Red Flag 18-3 exercise at Nellis AFB (NV). In June 2018, Scramble Magazine reported on the Colombian participation in the Red Flag exercise.
The following SW coded F-16s and ESCOM 111 Kfirs have been noted at Rionegro air base:
Photos by USAF