USA

Checkered Flag gives aircrew rare chance to launch live missiles at manoeuvring targets

US Air Force aircraft sit on the flightline at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida Exercise Checkered Flag 290426 CREDIT US DEPT DEFENSE — Aircraft line up on the tarmac at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida (Picture: US Department of Defence)

US Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida Exercise Checkered Flag CREDIT US DEPT DEFENSE — US Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon on Exercise Checkered Flag (Picture: US Department of Defence)

US Air Force F-16D Fighting Falcon Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida Exercise Checkered FlagCREDIT US DEPT DEFENSE — Dozens of aircraft from across the country are testing their combat readiness (Picture: US Department of Defence)

US Air Force F-35A Lightning II Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida Exercise Checkered FlagCREDIT US DEPT DEFENSE — US Air Force F-35A Lightning II were taking part alongside older 4th generation aircraft (Picture: US Department of Defence)

US Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon pilot Exercise Checkered Flag CREDIT US DEPT DEFENSE — It is one of the Department of War's largest air-to-air exercises, allowing different branches to coordinate (Picture: US Department of Defence)

US Navy FA 18E Super Hornet Exercise Checkered Flag CREDIT US DEPT DEFENSE — A US Navy F/A-18E Super Hornet was one of the 14 military units taking part (Picture: US Department of Defence)

US Air Force F 16C Fighting Falcon and US Navy FA 18E Super Hornet assigned Exercise Checkered Flag CREDIT US DEPT DEFENSE — The exercise is a chance for pilots to simulate combat scenarios (Picture: US Department of Defence)

US Air Force F-16C Fighting Falcon pilot Exercise Checkered Flag Runway CREDIT US DEPT DEFENSE — After Hurricane Michael destroyed Tyndall, the Department of Defence rebuilt it for its unique airspace (Picture: US Department of Defence)

The Checkered Flag and Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP) at Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, is an integral component of the US Air Force's annual training.

The large-scale air-to-air exercise brings together 14 units across the US Air Force and Navy as they integrate fourth and fifth-generation aircraft to test combat readiness.

Participating aircraft include the F-35A/C Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F-16C/CM Fighting Falcon, F/A-18E/F Super Hornet, EA-18G Growler and B-2 Spirit as well as command-and-control platforms like the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye.

As Checkered Flag wraps up, Major Tyler Davison, 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron F-22 programme manager, explained the value of the exercise and its venue.

"The Gulf Range Complex provides an invaluable platform to project combat airpower," he said.

"It's one of the only places that we can truly go out and exercise full live weapons mission profiles, actually employ these weapons at the edges of the envelope against live flying drones and be able to get real-time data."