USAF F-16s fly in to UK to test their combat readiness during Exercise Combat Archer

Twenty-one US Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons based in Italy have flown to the UK to examine their combat readiness in Exercise Combat Archer.

The training was the US Air Force's largest Weapons System Evaluation Programme (WSEP) exercise ever held in Europe.

The US Air Force's 555th Fighter Squadron, which is based at Aviano Air Base, honed its skills in loading and launching live ammunition in realistic combat scenarios to ensure its personnel remain lethal, agile, and ready to deter threats from around the globe.

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The exercise was held at RAF Lakenheath, home of the US Air Force's 48th Fighter Wing. 

"By simulating real-world engagements, Combat Archer ensures aircrews and maintenance personnel are prepared for actual combat scenarios," said General James B Hecker, commander of US Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA).

The drills used threat-representative uncrewed systems and live air-to-air missile launches designed to counter one-way attack drones.

The exercise also included firing AGR-20 FALCON laser-guided rockets to stop the one-way attack drones.

Holding the exercise in the UK rather than flying aircraft back to the United States allowed the US Air Force to save millions of dollars in fuel and tanker support, while keeping its units forward deployed in Europe.

F-16 Fighting Falcons

The F-16 fighter jet first took off in the 1970s and has been used ever since.

The aircraft, nicknamed the Viper by its pilots, turned 50 last year and, to mark the jet hitting the half-century, the US Air Force gave it a special livery in recognition of its milestone during an event at Edwards Air Force Base in California.

The jet, which has a 10m wingspan, is a small, light and ultra-nimble dogfighter.

Around 3,000 F-16s are currently in service in 25 countries, making it the West's most widely produced military jet.

"The 1970s design and today's F-16, you recognise they are the same aircraft externally – internally they are very, very different," Douglas Barrie, a senior fellow for military aerospace at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, said.

"Radar upgrades, avionics upgrades and a far greater weapons capability."