Photo By Senior Airman Zachary Nordheim | A Royal Canadian Air Force pilot salutes a corporal during Weapons System Evaluation...... read more read more
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- Royal Canadian Air Force members recently concluded training at Tyndall Air Force Base during Weapons System Evaluation Program-East 25.3, firing live air-to-air missiles and strengthening interoperability with U.S. counterparts. The two-week exercise provided critical training experience, particularly for pilots engaging in live missile launches for the first time.
The 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall oversees and executes WSEP, providing crucial evaluation and analysis of weapons systems performance. The exercise included dozens of Canadian maintainers and support personnel from Bagotville and Cold Lake, further solidifying the partnership between the two nations.
"After six years flying the Hornet, this was my first opportunity to employ air-to-air weapons," said Capt. Joshua Taylor, an RCAF CF-18 Hornet pilot. "Gaining that experience at WSEP, especially firing air-to-air missiles, is invaluable preparation for combat."
WSEP is the Air Force’s sole joint event that formally evaluates air-to-air and air-to-ground live fire weapons employment for combat aviators. It affords pilots the chance to fire live rounds and launch live missiles at aerial and ground targets, while providing maintainers with the opportunity of loading live munitions onto their aircraft.
"It's a great experience to work alongside the Americans, sharing experiences and best practices," Taylor said. "This strengthens our integration, ensuring we're ready to operate seamlessly from day one should the need arise."
The exercise provides a critical training environment for pilots to refine their skills and build confidence in their weapons systems, preparing them for any contingency. The 53rd WEG plays a vital role in this process, collecting and analyzing data to ensure the effectiveness and reliability of these defense systems.
"In a real-world combat scenario, we'll be operating alongside each other," said the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron’s F-18 program manager. "WSEP provides vital experience, allowing us to work out any kinks in a training environment, not on the battlefield."
With Tyndall's direct access to the Gulf Range Complex, this unencumbered range provides an environment that helps support the readiness of combat aviators while enabling live-fire testing and training. Direct access to this range is essential for 5th-generation fighter readiness, 4th and 5th-generation fighter interoperability and for live-fire testing and training.
"Range time lets us experience the full spectrum of combat, from takeoff to missile launch," said the program manager. "That real-world experience, outside of actual conflict, is precisely what makes us more survivable and lethal when it matters most."
This iteration of WSEP involved four squadrons, with plans to expand to eight next month, supported by hundreds of personnel from the 53rd WEG.
“Despite our relatively small footprint, WSEP has a significant impact across the Department of Defense, executing the Air Force’s only joint air-to-air live-fire evaluation,” said the WSEP East production superintendent. “Our goal is to ensure units are successful in their deployment processes, maintenance practices, and munitions operations, which in turn accelerates readiness and postures the force for the future.”
| Date Taken: | 04.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 04.03.2025 12:28 |
| Story ID: | 494487 |
| Location: | TYNDALL AIR FORCE BASE, FLORIDA, US |
| Web Views: | 2,200 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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