RAF Ground Crew Support US Fighter Jets On UK Training Exercise

US fighter jets have been receiving support from UK ground crews as part of a training exercise.

The three-day Mission Assurance Exercise has seen 22 US F-15 warplanes fly 32 missions per day, operating from RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire and two US air bases in Suffolk.

Chief of plans and programmes with the United States Air Force's (USAF) 48th Fighter Wing, Lieutenant Colonel Jason Heard, said the exercise aimed  to "enhance the wing's capabilities to conduct and sustain operations at two off-base locations".

The exercise, ending on Thursday, involves flights over the North Sea and approved Ministry of Defence (MOD) training areas.

One of the air bases, RAF Lakenheath, saw 12 F-15E Strike Eagles and 10 F-15C Eagles trained using what the USAF describes as agile combat employment (ACE) concepts.

These are ways to launch and maintain planes away from main US air bases, using alternative locations.

"Globally, threats and operational environments are evolving rapidly," said Lt Col Heard.

"The ACE concept is intended to increase the operational capability available to ensure and enhance security and stability across Europe.

"Adversaries can threaten our bases with conventional methods, so we must again adapt how we do business and be prepared to react as required should deterrence fail."

He said the training exercise was the "first-ever application of the ACE concept with USAF forces operating out of an RAF base during simulated conflict".

RAF Coningsby's station commander, Group Captain Matt Peterson, welcomed the USAF to the base.

"The Typhoon squadrons based here train weekly with our colleagues from RAF Lakenheath over the North Sea, deepening our understanding of how our respective forces operate; honing the skills required to operate in coalitions around the world.

"Hosting the Strike Eagles here is part of that ongoing process that further strengthens the already close ties between our stations." 

Cover image: A US F-15 takes off from RAF Coningsby during the training exercise (Picture: RAF).