Page 1 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, December 3, 2021

vol. 5, no. 24 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR dec. 3, 2021

An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com

F-15Es take part in Dual Capable Aircraft NucWSEP at Nellis

Air Force photograph by Santos Torres
An F-15E Strike Eagle from Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, carrying a B61 Joint Test Assembly, departs Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., for the Tonopah Test Range during DCA
NucWSEP. F-15Es released B61-3 and B61-4 JTAs at the Tonopah Test Range, Nev., to further test the F-15E’s inherent ability to deliver B61 series tactical nuclear weapons.

by 1st Lt. Jonathan Carkhuff by giving our warfighters the experience they would The 366 FW at Mountain Home AFB, which sourced
Nellis AFB, Nev. need to employ the F-15E and the B61 series weapons the F-15E’s used during the recent DCA NucWSEP, par-
in a future conflict within a contested environment.” ticipated in INDOPACOMs PACIFIC IRON Dynamic
U.S. Air Force Air Combat Command F-15E Strike As part of the “4+1” future fighter plan, the F-15E Force Employment just weeks before the NucWSEP
Eagles took part in Dual Capable Aircraft Nuclear provides a complimentary tie from fourth-generation event.
Weapons System Evaluation Program at Nellis Air DCA platforms with fifth and sixth-generation fighters. ACE is the use of agile operations to generate resilient
Force Base, Nev., earlier this fall. This means that F-15Es continue to play a significant airpower in a contested environment and dynamic force
In this iteration of DCA NucWSEP, aircrew and role as the Air Force refines the Combat Air Force, Force employment is one way the Air Force provides ACE
maintenance professionals flew and loaded B61-3 and Generation Concept. capability to combatant commanders on short notice
B61-4 Joint Test Assemblies, known as JTAs, on F-15Es “CAFFORGEN will increase and sustain readiness for strategic effects. These employments are designed
provided by the 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain for combat air forces,” said Gen. Mark Kelly, com- to enhance readiness for the high end fight and provide
Home Air Force Base, Idaho. The JTAs were released at mander of Air Combat Command. “We have to generate Airmen who are agile in operational execution, strategic
the Tonopah Test Range, Nevada, to support efforts to high-performing combat teams before combat – and get in deterrence, and more resilient in capability.
further test the F-15E’s inherent ability to deliver B61 them in place at the speed of relevance.” “As a dual-capable aircraft participating in ACE
series tactical nuclear weapons. F-15Es from units around Air Combat Command operations, we send a strong message to our allies and
“A Nuclear Evaluation Mission tests and evaluates are preparing for the future fight by participating in adversaries that our capabilities are credible, our op-
maintenance, aircrew, and weapons Airmen to pro- exercises and operations that incorporate ACE con- tions are numerous and we can respond to crisis in any
vide assurance of nuclear capabilities from stockpile cepts, which ensure forward-deployed forces are ready corner of the world at a moment’s notice,” said Kabel.
to delivery,” said Lt. Col. Douglas Kabel, Air Combat to protect and defend the United States and ensure “These operations enable our Joint team to provide
Command’s Deputy Director of Strategic Deterrence readiness and availability to operate alongside allies extended deterrence to our allies in Europe and around
and Nuclear Integration. “It improves our readiness and security partners. the world in support of our National Security Strategy.”