To validate the concept of mobile combat employment, six U.S. Air Force F-15Es carried a large number of bombs for transport to other friendly bases. (Photo / 322nd Air Expeditionary Wing Facebook)
The U.S. Air Force announced on the 29th that in order to validate the Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept, six F-15E Strike Eagles (Strike Eagles) The fighters previously carried large numbers of bombs to other friendly bases to simulate “alternatives” when traditional large transport aircraft are insufficient or unable to reach the front lines in the face of adversaries such as the Chinese Communist Party and Russia.
The 322nd Air Expeditionary Wing (332d Air Expeditionary Wing) said in a statement that the 494th Fighter Squadron’s six F-15Es flew their first combat tactical ferry mission. With twice the usual payload, they delivered more than a dozen MK82 general-purpose bombs and GBU-39 Small Diameter Bomb (SDB) to the 332d Air Expeditionary Wing on the Middle East front.
According to photos provided by the unit, all F-15Es have AIM-120 air-to-air missiles mounted on hard points under their wings to ensure they can handle any mid-air surprises. The U.S. Air Force emphasized that allowing tactical warplanes to perform combat missions while also providing assistance to friendly forces is a key element of the mobile combat employment concept.
Since both the Chinese and Russian militaries possess a large number of cruise and ballistic missiles that could pose a threat to major U.S. bases in Europe or the Pacific, the U.S. Air Force has turned to the mobile combat employment concept in recent years, hoping to expand the number of forward bases quickly and reduce risk by expanding the capabilities of military aircraft, prepositioning alternate base equipment, and improving the airlift network, if necessary.
Defense News previously pointed out that the U.S. Air Force still has a number of capabilities that need to be strengthened, including obtaining the support of local allies so that they are willing to open their airports for U.S. forces to move in when necessary; speeding up the procurement of prepositioned equipment to avoid a lack of airlift capacity when emergencies occur, or putting too many tactical warplanes to support airlift, resulting in a lack of combat power; and allowing pilots to receive more extensive training, reduce the need for ground personnel at each temporary base, etc.
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