everything including weather and any
updates to the airield.’
Dowd described one speciic mission
to Combat Aircraft. ‘One of the missions
I really enjoyed was working the urban
scenario, which was right next to the
base. We checked in and got on the
frequency with the JTAC and told him the
weapons we were carrying as well as the
time we had on station. We didn’t know
what was happening as far as when an
attack might happen, if at all. In this case,the JTAC informed the pilots that they
had two teams positioned behind some
buildings, ready to move down the street.
After a brief reference to the maps that
were provided, the pilots conirmed a
visual of both teams after being guided
in by the JTAC on the radio. I am lying
and ready to drop bombs or ire the gun,
but most of my attention is outside. The
JTAC informed me that they were on the
move down the street to their objective.
I put my targeting pod forward of theirlocation and looked for any threats. We
could see a van heading their way. Soon
after, I could hear the sound of gunire on
the radio. Looking down I could see white
smoke that simulated grenades being
thrown. As the JTACs were taking cover, I
could provide them with updates on the
enemy’s position. The JTACs requested
a bomb to be dropped 100m north of
their position near a pond and a strafe
run using the 20mm gun. This type of
training with such a well-thought-out
scenario is not something we can easily
get in Tucson.’
Instructor pilot Maj Eamonn ‘Floater’
O’Rourke was one of the 22 pilots brought
out for the exercise. ‘In 2007, I went to Iraq
as a young lieutenant doing a lot of close
air support. I am now a FAC-A [forward
air controller — airborne] and graduatedAbove: The Block
30 F-16s flown by
the Arizona ANG
are upgraded in
order for pilots to
wear the Thales
Scorpion helmet-
mounted sight.
Above left: A 195th
FS F-16C takes
on fuel from a
Nebraska ANG
KC-135R.
Right: The
presence of
CONUS fighter
units in Europe
has noticeably
increased in
recent years,
providing welcome
opportunities to
work alongside
NATO squadrons.EXERCISE REPORT // ‘AMPLE STRIKE’
64 December 2018 //^ http://www.combataircraft.net