USAF's maritime WSEP
A five minute read how USAF's 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group conducted the largest maritime Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP) in history.
The latest WSEP, which was held from 7 until 15 April 2022, also included the annual exercises Combat Hammer, Combat Archer and Combat Shield. Throughout the two week period, USAF squadrons were evaluated in and over Florida on their ability to conduct air-to-air and air-to-ground operations along with assessing the electronic warfare systems of the A-10C Thunderbolt II.
Ten Thunderbolt IIs from the 74th Fighter Squadron Flying Tigers participated in all three combat exercises, and were evaluated on Maverick and Laser Guided Weapon capabilities against maritime targets, that provided a unique tactical problem that simulated employment against complex adversaries.
During the Combat Hammer phase of WSEP the 1st Special Operations Wing integrated with the 74th FS assisting with target acquisition. Besides flying other aircraft, the 1st SOW brought in the Pilatus U-28A Draco. The latter, being an Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) platform, has a unique set of tools that has the ability to form a synergistic effect with fighter aircraft counterparts.
Executing operational test objectives, the 422d Test and Evaluation Squadron also took part in the maritime event with three A-10Cs from Nellis AFB (NV). The Thunderbolt II pilots shot AGR-20 Advanced Precision Kill Weapon System (APKWS) rockets against multiple real maritime targets with the goal to develop standoff tactics to further increase survivability in engagements similar to the exercise environment.
Three EL coded B-1B Lancers from Ellsworth's Thunderbirds 34th Bomb Squadron also participated in exercise Combat Hammer, testing specific Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile (JASSM) employment parameters and the correlation to weapon impact timing. By testing the JASSM, the overall intent was to better understand all phases of its flight to validate previous data points and confirm assumed data points. Overall the tests were successful and has potential implications for various combat USAF aircraft. The data that was gathered will be used to create a Flash Tactics Bulletin (FTB) that will be applicable to all aircraft that employ JASSM.
Also taking part in the latest WSEP were General Atomics MQ-9 Reapers. The Reaper units were deployed with minimal equipment and personnel to execute operations. By evaluating that, the units were moving to a leaner setup by not using established footprints for extended operations. During the evaluation, the MQ-9 crews were able to identify deficiency in the technical orders for weapons build allowing for an update to the tactic of rapid deployment of MQ-9s.
On 28 April 2022, some two weeks later and related to the latest WSEP, Eglin’s Integrated Test Team demonstrated a new low-cost, air-delivered capability for defeating maritime threats in the Gulf of Mexico. An 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron F-15E Strike Eagle released a modified GBU-31 Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) that successfully destroyed a full-scale stationary surface vessel. While torpedoes predominantly sink enemy ships via submarines, new methods explored through USAF's QUICKSINK may achieve anti-ship lethality with air-launched weapons, including modified 2,000-pound JDAM precision-guided bombs.
At the end of the WSEP it was stated that this could very well be the last time ever that a USAF maritime WSEP of this magnitude was conducted in, over and near the Gulf of Mexico. All combat evaluation programmes fall under Combat Air Force Plan 53, which evaluates the reliability, maintainability, suitability, accuracy, and readiness of complete fielded combat weapons systems against realistic threats and targets when employed by operational USAF units.
Credit photos: USAF