Photography by Erik Hildebrandt
The skies over Key West, Fla., fill with Eagles, Hornets,Tigers, and Fulcrums for a joint exercise.
Agile Archer
AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2002 44AIR FORCE Magazine / November 200244
A German Luftwaffe MiG-29 leads a US Navy F/A-18C and an F-15A from theFlorida Air National Guard.
Photography by Erik Hildebrandt
The skies over Key West, Fla., fill with Eagles, Hornets,Tigers, and Fulcrums for a joint exercise.
Agile Archer
AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2002 44AIR FORCE Magazine / November 200244
A German Luftwaffe MiG-29 leads a US Navy F/A-18C and an F-15A from theFlorida Air National Guard.
AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2002 47AIR FORCE Magazine / November 200246
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Exercise Agile Archer 2002 tookplace at NAS Key West, Fla.,
from Sept. 4 to Oct. 5. Hosted by theFlorida Air National Guard’s 125thFighter Wing, the joint exercise gaveUS participants an opportunity toconduct dissimilar air combattraining against one of the mostcapable potential foes—the MiG-29Fulcrum.
At left, a MiG-29—showing the AA-11Archer infrared guided missile thatlent its name to this exercise—leadsan ANG F-15 Eagle (at top of photo)and a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet in aturn over Gulf waters.
The 125th Fighter Wing is based atJacksonville Airport, Fla. One of itsmissions is to intercept aircraftpenetrating sovereign US airspace.The wing transitioned to F-15s in1995 and, with this mission in mind,began actively seeking opportunitiesto train in air-to-air combat. In May2000, the 125th headed to Laage AirBase in northeast Germany forExercise Agile Archer 2000. Theyspent nearly three weeks there,becoming the first US–based wing todeploy to Laage as a unit.
Laage is home of the German 1stSquadron of Fighter Wing 73—theSteinhoff Wing—equipped with MiG-29s from the now-defunct EastGerman Air Force. The wing’smission since German reunificationhas been air defense. Because it hasMiGs, it also routinely hosts fighteraircraft from other air forces seekingto train against the Fulcrum.
Below, a German MiG gets ready foran Agile Archer training missionfrom Key West.
AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2002 47AIR FORCE Magazine / November 200246
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Exercise Agile Archer 2002 tookplace at NAS Key West, Fla.,
from Sept. 4 to Oct. 5. Hosted by theFlorida Air National Guard’s 125thFighter Wing, the joint exercise gaveUS participants an opportunity toconduct dissimilar air combattraining against one of the mostcapable potential foes—the MiG-29Fulcrum.
At left, a MiG-29—showing the AA-11Archer infrared guided missile thatlent its name to this exercise—leadsan ANG F-15 Eagle (at top of photo)and a US Navy F/A-18 Hornet in aturn over Gulf waters.
The 125th Fighter Wing is based atJacksonville Airport, Fla. One of itsmissions is to intercept aircraftpenetrating sovereign US airspace.The wing transitioned to F-15s in1995 and, with this mission in mind,began actively seeking opportunitiesto train in air-to-air combat. In May2000, the 125th headed to Laage AirBase in northeast Germany forExercise Agile Archer 2000. Theyspent nearly three weeks there,becoming the first US–based wing todeploy to Laage as a unit.
Laage is home of the German 1stSquadron of Fighter Wing 73—theSteinhoff Wing—equipped with MiG-29s from the now-defunct EastGerman Air Force. The wing’smission since German reunificationhas been air defense. Because it hasMiGs, it also routinely hosts fighteraircraft from other air forces seekingto train against the Fulcrum.
Below, a German MiG gets ready foran Agile Archer training missionfrom Key West.
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Above, a German crew chief workson his MiG.
The MiG-29 air superiority fighterhas been in service since 1985 andis flown by Iraq, Iran, and NorthKorea. Its speed, thrust-to-weightratio, and maneuverability make itcomparable to the F-15, F-16, and F/A-18. One advantage: MiG pilots use ahelmet-mounted sight and the AA-11Archer; the missile follows thepilot’s line of sight. American F-15C/Ds are to be modified with a helmet-mounted “look and shoot” system.
The early morning light shows aflight line crowded with MiGs andF/A-18s. An all-weather fighter andattack aircraft, the Navy’s F/A-18handles interdiction and close airsupport.
The deployment to Laage inspiredthe 125th to organize Agile Archer2002. It was a complex undertaking.More than 100 aircrews participated.This included F-15 pilots from the85th Test and Evaluation Squadron,Eglin AFB, Fla., and the 131st FighterWing (ANG) in St. Louis, Mo. Navyaircrews came from the fleet andfrom the Naval Strike and Air WarfareCenter—home of the Top Gunschool. Aircrews from the SteinhoffWing included some of the top MiG-29 pilots in the world.
Other Navy aircraft at Agile Archerwere the F-14 Tomcat and the F-5Tiger II at right, in camouflage as anaggressor aircraft.
The Key West area offered goodflying weather for Agile Archer aswell as extensive airspace. At left, anF-15 leads a MiG and an F/A-18 asthe three major players prepare tomix it up. Supersonic, all-weather,and highly maneuverable, the F-15Eagle was designed for air superior-ity. Its multimission avionics—suchas a head-up display, advancedradar, and inertial and tacticalnavigation systems—give it an edgeover current adversary aircraft.
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Above, a German crew chief workson his MiG.
The MiG-29 air superiority fighterhas been in service since 1985 andis flown by Iraq, Iran, and NorthKorea. Its speed, thrust-to-weightratio, and maneuverability make itcomparable to the F-15, F-16, and F/A-18. One advantage: MiG pilots use ahelmet-mounted sight and the AA-11Archer; the missile follows thepilot’s line of sight. American F-15C/Ds are to be modified with a helmet-mounted “look and shoot” system.
The early morning light shows aflight line crowded with MiGs andF/A-18s. An all-weather fighter andattack aircraft, the Navy’s F/A-18handles interdiction and close airsupport.
The deployment to Laage inspiredthe 125th to organize Agile Archer2002. It was a complex undertaking.More than 100 aircrews participated.This included F-15 pilots from the85th Test and Evaluation Squadron,Eglin AFB, Fla., and the 131st FighterWing (ANG) in St. Louis, Mo. Navyaircrews came from the fleet andfrom the Naval Strike and Air WarfareCenter—home of the Top Gunschool. Aircrews from the SteinhoffWing included some of the top MiG-29 pilots in the world.
Other Navy aircraft at Agile Archerwere the F-14 Tomcat and the F-5Tiger II at right, in camouflage as anaggressor aircraft.
The Key West area offered goodflying weather for Agile Archer aswell as extensive airspace. At left, anF-15 leads a MiG and an F/A-18 asthe three major players prepare tomix it up. Supersonic, all-weather,and highly maneuverable, the F-15Eagle was designed for air superior-ity. Its multimission avionics—suchas a head-up display, advancedradar, and inertial and tacticalnavigation systems—give it an edgeover current adversary aircraft.
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Left to right, a MiG, an F/A-18, andan F-15 cruise over water.
Most Agile Archer scenarios featuredone or two US fighters vs. one MiG.In the one-against-one basic fightermaneuvering missions, the simu-lated combat usually started with theadversaries turning directly towardone another, neither starting with apositional advantage. In the two-against-one engagements, the USfighters generally began the dogfightwith the enemy at a positionaladvantage—defensive air combatmaneuvering.
Agile Archer pitted US aircrewsagainst “enemy” pilots as proficientand experienced as any they mightface. The training missions from KeyWest gave the Air National Guardand Navy pilots insight on a highlycapable adversary aircraft—andtraining in how to use the strongpoints of their aircraft to meet thechallenge. ■
AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2002 51AIR FORCE Magazine / November 200250
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Left to right, a MiG, an F/A-18, andan F-15 cruise over water.
Most Agile Archer scenarios featuredone or two US fighters vs. one MiG.In the one-against-one basic fightermaneuvering missions, the simu-lated combat usually started with theadversaries turning directly towardone another, neither starting with apositional advantage. In the two-against-one engagements, the USfighters generally began the dogfightwith the enemy at a positionaladvantage—defensive air combatmaneuvering.
Agile Archer pitted US aircrewsagainst “enemy” pilots as proficientand experienced as any they mightface. The training missions from KeyWest gave the Air National Guardand Navy pilots insight on a highlycapable adversary aircraft—andtraining in how to use the strongpoints of their aircraft to meet thechallenge. ■
AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2002 51AIR FORCE Magazine / November 200250
