‘Have bombs, will travel’: How agile deployments are reshaping combat in the Middle East May 3 The 332nd Air Expeditionary Wing configured six F-15E Strike Eagles to carry extra bombs to bare-base locations, taking off from an undisclosed location April 25. This new configuration is allowing the Air Force to increase combat capabilities by carrying more munitions to a forward operating base than the Strike Eagle can use on one mission. (Air Force) The Air Force’s latest push for a more flexible force known as agile combat employment could help the service keep airmen at home longer and its aircraft readiness up, the leader of a key expeditionary wing in the Middle East told Air Force Times April 30. But deployments could become more intense for airmen when they do go abroad.
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F-15E fighter planes deliver munitions to UAE
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Six F-15E fighter planes, configured to carry additional munitions, arrived at Al Shafra Air Base, UAE, in an exercise showing the planes can be used to deliver bombs to remote air bases. Photo courtesy of U.S. Air Force
April 30 (UPI) Six modified F-15E fighter planes completed their first delivery of munitions to Al Dhafra Air Base, United Arab Emirates, this week, the U.S. Air force announced.
The planes are equipped with a carriage allowing them to carry up to 15 Joint Direct Attack Munitions, which convert unguided bombs into all-weather precision-guided munitions.
F-15E Strike Eagles Execute First Operational Tactical Munitions Ferry With The New “Bomb Truck” Configuration
F-15E Strike Eagles Execute First Operational Tactical Munitions Ferry With The New “Bomb Truck” Configuration
The 332 Air Expeditionary Wing blazed new trails when they configured six F-15E Strike Eagles to carry extra bombs to bare base locations, taking off from an undisclosed location 25 April 2021. This new configuration is allowing the Air Force to increase combat capabilities, by carrying more munitions than the Strike Eagle can use on one mission, to a forward operating base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech. Sgt. Paul Duquette)
35 Six F-15E Strike Eagles landed here with a modified munitions configuration on Apr. 25, 2021, as part of an Agile Combat Employment operation in the U.S. Central Command theater.
The 494th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron executed the first combat tactical ferry mission for the F-15E platform, enabling the six-ship to carry double their standard munitions load.
“These F-15Es are carrying what is called a ‘tac-ferry’ load out. What that means is we can maneuver using Agile Combat Employment, and be postured to go forward from a main operating base,” said Lt. Col. Curtis Culver, 494th EFS Director of Operations. “This is the next step for the Air Force in Agile Combat Employment. So instead of having multi-capable Airmen that are exercising maneuver and logistics, now we’re doing that with sustained munitions to project power.”