LANGLEY AIR FORCE BASE, Va. –
Langley pilots faced a new adversary during dog fights the past two weeks.
Testing their long-range radar, air-to-air combat drills, mission tactics, barrel rolls, and lessons learned, the 1st and 192nd Fighter Wings pilots faced off against the 64th Aggressor Squadron fighter pilots from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
The 64th AGRS, which prepares the Combat Air Force, joint and allied aircrews for tomorrow's victories with challenging and realistic threat replication, training, academics and feedback, visited Langley Sept. 8-19.
"Every day when we fight each other, half the pilots have to simulate the threat country, while the other half train in our own tactics," said Capt. Chuck Schuck, 27th Fighter Squadron. "This reduces the amount of training we have in combat, because half the time we are simulating threat country tactics."
The visiting AGRS F-16s allowed Langley pilots to go against a foe experienced in adversarial tactics.
"The 64th AGRS are not looking to start a war with any country in particular nor are we replicating any specific country, but we are simulating that technology so our CAF brothers have the best training in the world," said Capt. Robert "Pipes" Stimpson, 64th Aggressors F-16 Viper fighter pilot.
"One such technology is the ALQ-188 or advanced electronic attack pod, which jams jets' radars," said Captain Stimpson.
Training capabilities are enhanced by adding technology that can confuse the pilot's radar, said Captain Stimpson.
"One of our training days included beyond-visual-range engagements," said Captain Schuck. " We practice being able to kill the enemy without having to see him."
"The 64th Aggressors could not visually see us and we couldn't see them, " said Captain Schuck. "The plane's sensors see (the enemy), the missiles you're shooting see (the enemy). That's how the U.S. typically fights."
During the visit, the Aggressors gave Langley fighter squadrons something to simulate shooting in the sky along with academic briefings.
"This keeps them up to date on threats currently out there," said Captain Stimpson. "We roughly spend 80 percent of our time looking in depth at adversary aircrafts and tactics. "
The Aggressors bring that knowledge about enemy weapons, technology and tactics so units are ready for any adversary.
"The United States doesn't really dog fight," said Captain Stimpson. "We prefer to kill the enemy before they ever see or detect us."