RAF

Combat Archer: US Air Force's premier fighter weapons evaluation exercise in Europe

30th July 2026 at 2:06pm

Combat Archer US F-35A Lightning II takes off RAF Lakenheath CREDIT DVIDS — US Air Force F-35A Lightning II takes off from RAF Lakenheath (US Dept of Defense)

Combat Archer US Air Force F-35A F-35A Lightning II fly in formation CREDIT DVIDS — F-35A Lightning II fly in formation on Exercise Combat Archer (US Dept of Defense)

Combat Archer F-35A Lightning II prepares to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker CREDIT DVIDS — F-35A Lightning II prepares to receive fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker (US Dept of Defense)

Combat Archer US F-35A Lightning II flies RAF Lakenheath CREDIT DVIDS — US Air Force F-35A Lightning II flies as part of a live-fire exercise (US Dept of Defense)

Combat Archer F-15E Strike Eagle returns from a live-fire mission RAF Lakenheath CREDIT DVIDS — US Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle returns from a live-fire mission (US Dept of Defense)

Combat Archer AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles awaiting loading RAF Lakenheath CREDIT DVIDS — AIM-9 Sidewinder missiles awaiting loading at RAF Lakenheath (US Dept of Defense)

Combat Archer precision guided munitions inspector prepares AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile RAF Lakenheath CREDIT DVIDS — AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile prepared for flight (US Dept of Defense)

Combat Archer AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air to Air Missile onto an F-35A Lightning II RAF Lakenheath CREDIT DVIDS — AIM-120 Advanced Medium-Range Air-to-Air Missile onto an F-35A Lightning (US Dept of Defense)

Combat Archer F-35A Lightning II marshalled RAF Lakenheath CREDIT DVIDS — F-35A Lightning II marshalled during Ex Combat Archer (US Dept of Defense)

Combat Archer pilot climbs into an F-35A Lightning II RAF Lakenheath CREDIT DVIDS — Pilot climbs into an F-35A Lightning II at RAF Lakenheath (US Dept of Defense)

With attack drones and advanced aerial threats evolving rapidly, maintaining air superiority requires increasingly advanced training.

Fast jet pilots must now do more than fly – they need to manage the battle space, process real-time sensor data, coordinate with allied forces and make critical decisions in seconds.

Exercise Combat Archer is an opportunity to ensure they are fully qualified to perform these tasks with live weapons in realistic operational scenarios.

What is Combat Archer?

Combat Archer is an annual two-week air-to-air weapons evaluation run by US Air Forces in Europe and Africa.

This year it was hosted by RAF Lakenheath, bringing together pilots from the USAF's 492nd and 493rd Fighter Squadrons and the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, based at Tyndall Air Force Base in Florida, alongside RAF counterparts from 29 and 207 Squadrons.

The exercise certifies pilots in the live use of air-to-air weapons systems before they are cleared for real-world operations.

How the exercise works

Supported by KC-135 refuelling tankers from the 100th Air Refuelling Wing at RAF Mildenhall, pilots flew both UK and US F-35Bs and Typhoons on live-fire training missions over northern Scotland and west Wales, including the Outer Hebrides and Aberporth ranges.

The aim is for the exercise is to be more than just simulations, with aircraft, weapons systems, and pilots all put under genuine operational pressure.

Training alongside Nato allies is a vital part of the process.

When different air forces operate together, they must be able to communicate, coordinate and respond as a single, integrated force.