been through at least two front-line
tours and they are generally experienced
instructors, many being Weapons School
patch-wearers and su ciently experienced
to o ciate credibly on expensive new
gear. ‘We need people at the top of their
game,’ says Darling. ‘Can they work with
the diverse network of people that span
from requirements, to acquisitions, to
sustainment, to engineering and analysis,
and to developmental test, and then into
the CAF? Can they maintain the credibility
with the CAF while also having that tactical
expertise to teach them a new capability?
So we want fairly high-time crews with a
lot of experience.’
In an era of manpower and experience
shortages, having su ciently well-
versed and seasoned personnel at the
422 is absolutely vital to the wider USAF.
Squadron teams regularly accompany
large upgrades into the eld to educate
the operator community. These trips
include in-depth academics and usually
several weeks of coaching at relevant air
bases. Recently, small teams of up to ve
F-16 pilots traveled to every base in the
US, Europe, Japan, and Korea, to support
the elding of the M7.1 software tape in
the F-16. This ranged from teaching the
academics to creating simulator events.
A maybe less obvious part of the 422
team is the local airspace — the Nevada
Test and Training Range (NTTR, known
locally as ‘knitter’), regarded by many as
a national asset. The 12,000-square mile
NTTR is the largest range space available for
peacetime military operations in the world.
It consists of 2.9 million acres of land, 5,000
square miles of airspace free from civilian
aircraft, and another 7,000 square miles
of military operating area (MOA, airspace
shared with civilian tra c). The NTTR is
broken up into multiple smaller segments,
many with speci c targets laid out on the
ground for aircraft to employ live or inert
ordnance against. There are no restrictions
that necessitate the 422 to travel elsewhere
to ex its muscles — the full spectrum
of missions can be performed within the
NTTR. However, based on factors such as
a weapon footprint or customer location
and/or requirement, the missions can also
shift to the Utah Test and Training Range,
White Sands Missile Range, or even out
over the Paci c Ocean.
Its popularity and the volume of
customers in and around Nellis mean
the NTTR is busy, especially during a ‘Red
Flag’. Getting a clear slot can often be an
issue. ‘It can be tough,’ explains Darling.
‘That’s probably one of the main bene ts
of being based here, rather than visiting.
Because we’re here, we have an established
presence. That is also one of the challenges
of being a multi-MDS squadron. We’ll get
one or two blocks of airspace reserved for
us each day, and we need to gure out how
to make that work for the testing across
all six types. Not every day are all six in the
same block, but very often we’re trying to
creatively gure out how to test with each
other or carve out small slices in that same
airspace in which to get things done.’A complex squadron
The number of aircraft types on strength
equates to a signi cant range of
programs. The common denominator
is the current impetus to make the
eets as lethal and survivable as
possible through a process of continual
modernization. Each of the six MDSs has
some form of hardware, software and
tactics improvement in the works to
keep pace with improving technology
and to counter increased threats from
potential adversaries. For example, the
F-22 Raptor is elding new TTPs to retain
its survivability against new surface and
air threats that may diminish some of its
low-observable advantage. In addition,
Increment 3.2B software formally
brings the AIM-120D and AIM-9X Block
II missiles into the type’s inventory.
Increment 3.2B also o ers enhanced geo-
location to nd and x surface threats.
Modernization is the main focus of
the Eagles that nest within the 422 as
well. Both the F-15C Eagle and F-15E
Strike Eagle are going through the Suite
9 operational ight program (OFP) that
brings software commonality between
the two. The new software uses the
much-improved advanced display core
processor II (ADCP II) mission computer.
Schuett says, ‘The biggest focus in the
422 Eagle Division is ADCP II and the
capabilities it brings. We have one jet
that’s already modi ed, and we have
more on the schedule over the next few
years. This is a huge leap in computingAbove: This OT
A-10C carries a
mixed load of
live ordnance
including an
AGM-65 Maverick
and Mk82 AIR
bombs.
Jamie Hunter
Left top to bottom:
A spectacular
break performed
by 422nd TES
assets — an A-10C,
F-16CM, F-35A
and F-15E.
A ‘Green Bats’
F-22A Raptor
breaks sharply for
the camera.
Despite the
perennial threat
of retirement, the
A-10C remains
relevant and
important in real-
world operations,
meaning small
upgrades and
refi nements are
never far away.http://www.combataircraft.net // November 2018 55