Lockheed Martin F-16 Arctic Aggressor


The 18th Aggressor Squadron is a subordinate unit of the 354th Fighter Wing based at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, and flies the Block 30 General Dynamics F-16C/D aircraft.

Operational history

Combat in Northern Pacific, and defense of Alaska, during World War II. Air Defense of US, 1952–1971 and 1977–1982. Close air support for Alaskan/PACAF areas of responsibility,

In 1997, elements of the 18th FS deployed to Singapore and Malaysia to take part in dissimilar air combat tactic training as part of exercise COMMANDO SLING and COPE TAUFAN, respectively. The COPE TAUFAN deployment marked the first time Pacific Air Forces' F-16s had flown against MiG-29s.

The unit deployed to Ahmed Al Jaber Air Base, Kuwait, October–December 1998 to support Operation Southern Watch.

Later, the squadron deployed to Incirlik Air Base, Turkey, September–December 2000, employing 5 F-16 aircraft and 110 personnel, conducting the first ever Combat Search and Rescue support tasking for an F-16 squadron in support of Operation Northern Watch.

After the 11 September 2001 attacks, the 18th FS was called to generate eight aircraft for Alaska NORAD air defense during Operation NOBLE EAGLE, though the aircraft never had to launch.

The squadron's next deployment was to Al Jaber AB, Kuwait, December 2001 – March 2002 to support simultaneous combat operations for Operations SOUTHERN WATCH and ENDURING FREEDOM. They flew more than 3,200 hours in only 3 months, an amazing feat for the 142 Blue Foxes who deployed with only 10 aircraft. During that time, the 18th FS flew missions in support of Operation ANACONDA, including one in the Shah-I-Kot valley on 2 March when U.S. forces, engaged in a firefight with Taliban and Al Qaeda forces, called for aerial assistance. A number of Blue Foxes responded, dropping bombs with pinpoint accuracy on the opposing forces. Capt Jim Sears and Capt Andy Lipina, 18 FS pilots, received Distinguished Flying Crosses for their efforts. Lt. Col. Burt Bartley, the 18 FS commander at the time, received the Silver Star for strafing and dropping 500 lbs Laser Guided Bombs on what would later be known as "The Battle for Roberts Ridge."

The squadron deployed to Andersen AFB, Guam in support of Operation NOBLE EAGLE during March 2003. The unit also participated in COMMANDO SLING, in October 2003.

As part of the change from COPE THUNDER to Red Flag-Alaska, the 18th FS will be converting to the 18th Aggressor Squadron. This squadron will train in the same manner as the aggressors at Nellis AFB, learning the flying styles and abilities of foreign air forces to train USAF pilots. Aircraft changes entail sending all 18 of its Block 40 F-16 Fighting Falcons to Kunsan Air Base, Korea, and receiving 18 Block 30 F-16s from Kunsan. At a time unspecified, the 18th will achieve a full complement of 24 F-16 fighters.

Lineage

* Constituted 18th Pursuit Squadron (Interceptor) on 22 December 1939

Activated on 1 February 1940
Redesignated: 18th Fighter Squadron on 15 May 1942
Redesignated: 18th Fighter Squadron, Single Engine, 20 August 1943
Redesignated: 18th Fighter Squadron, Two Engine, on 6 March 1945
Inactivated on 15 August 1946

* Redesignated 18th Fighter-Interceptor Squadron on 10 October 1952

Activated on 1 December 1952
Inactivated on 15 April 1971

* Redesignated 18th Tactical Fighter Squadron on 19 September 1977

Activated on 1 October 1977
Redesignated: 18th Fighter Squadron on 1 July 1991
Redesignated: 18th Aggressor Squadron on 24 August 2007


Assignments

* 35th Pursuit Group, 1 February 1940
* 28th Composite Group, c. 24 February 1941
* XI Fighter Command, 7 June 1942
* 343d Fighter Group, 11 September 1942–15 August 1946
* 31st Air Division, 1 December 1952
* 514th Air Defense Group, 16 February 1953
* 11th Air Division, 1 September 1954
* 5001st Air Defense Group, 20 September 1954
* 11th Air Division, 1 October 1955
* 412th Fighter Group, 20 August 1957
* 30th Air Division, 1 April 1960
* 478th Fighter Group, 1 May 1960



* 478th Fighter Wing, 1 February 1961
* Grand Forks Air Defense Sector, 1 July 1963
* Duluth Air Defense Sector, 4 September 1963
* 29th Air Division, 1 April 1966
* 28th Air Division, 15 September 1969
* 24th Air Division, 19 November 1969–15 April 1971
* 21st Composite Wing, 1 October 1977
* 343d Tactical Fighter Group, 15 November 1977
* 21st Tactical Fighter Wing, 1 January 1980
* 343d Composite (later, 343d Tactical Fighter) Wing, 1 January 1982
* 343d Operations Group, 1 July 1991
* 354th Operations Group, 20 August 1993–.


Stations

* Moffett Field, California, 1 February 1940
* Hamilton Field, California, 10 September 1940 – 8 February 1941
* Elmendorf Field, Alaska, 21 February 1941
* Fort Greely, Alaska, 18 April – 23 November 1942
* Adak Alaska, 6 December 1942
* Amchitka Alaska, 15 February 1943
* Attu Alaska, 28 March 1944
* Elmendorf Field, Alaska, 6 November 1945



* Ladd Field, Alaska, 20 June – 15 August 1946
* Minneapolis-Saint Paul International Airport, Minnesota, 1 December 1952
* Ladd AFB, Alaska, 28 August 1954
* Wurtsmith AFB, Michigan, 20 August 1957
* Grand Forks AFB, North Dakota, 1 May 1960 – 15 April 1971
* Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, 1 October 1977
* Eielson AFB, Alaska, 1 January 1982 – present


Major aircraft assigned

* P-36 Hawk, 1940–1941
* Curtiss P-40, 1941–1945
* P-39 Airacobra, 1943
* P-38 Lightning, 1943–1946
* P-51 Mustang, 1946. F-51, 1952–1953
* F-86 Sabre, 1953–1954



* F-89 Scorpion, 1954–1957
* F-102 Delta Dagger, 1957–1960
* F-101 Voodoo, 1960–1971
* F-4 Phantom II, 1977–1981
* A-10 Thunderbolt II, 1982–1991
* F-16 Fighting Falcon, since 1991


Operations

* Combat in Northern Pacific, and defense of Alaska, during World War II
* Air Defense of US, 1952–1971 and 1977–1982
* Close air support for Alaskan/PACAF areas of responsibility, since 1982


Decorations

* Air Force Outstanding Unit Awards: 1 June 1962 – 31 May 1964; 7 June 1966 – 8 June 1968; 1 January – 31 December 1978; 1 January 1983 – 30 June 1984; 1 July 1985 – 30 June 1987; 1 January 1988 – 31 December 1989; 1 July 1990 – 30 June 1992.


General characteristics

* Crew: 1
* Length: 49 ft 5 in (15.06 m)
* Wingspan: 32 ft 8 in (9.96 m)
* Height: 16 ft (4.88 m)
* Wing area: 300 ft² (27.87 m²)
* Airfoil: NACA 64A204 root and tip
* Empty weight: 18,900 lb (8,570 kg)
* Loaded weight: 26,500 lb (12,000 kg)
* Max takeoff weight: 42,300 lb (19,200 kg)
* Powerplant: 1× F110-GE-100 afterburning turbofan
o Dry thrust: 17,155 lbf (76.3 kN)
o Thrust with afterburner: 28,600 lbf (127 kN)
* Internal fuel:

Performance

* Maximum speed:
o At sea level: Mach 1.2 (915 mph, 1,470 km/h)[45][104]
o At altitude: Mach 2+[104] (1,500 mph, 2,410 km/h[2]) clean configuration
* Combat radius: 340 mi (295 nm, 550 km) on a hi-lo-hi mission with six 1,000 lb (450 kg) bombs
* Ferry range: 2,280 NM (2,620 mi, 4,220 km) with drop tanks
* Service ceiling: 60,000+ ft (18,000+ m)
* Rate of climb: 50,000 ft/min (254 m/s)
* Wing loading: 88.3 lb/ft² (431 kg/m²)
* Thrust/weight: 1.095



Armament

* Guns: 1× 20 mm (0.787 in) M61 Vulcan 6-barreled gatling cannon, 511 rounds
* Hardpoints: 2× wing-tip Air-to-air missile launch rails, 6× under-wing & 3× under-fuselage pylon stations holding up to 17,000 lb (7,700 kg) of payload
* Rockets:
o 4× LAU-61/LAU-68 rocket pods (each with 19× /7× Hydra 70 mm rockets, respectively) or
o 4× LAU-5003 rocket pods (each with 19× CRV7 70 mm rockets) or
o 4× LAU-10 rocket pods (each with 4× Zuni 127 mm rockets)
* Missiles:
o Air-to-air missiles:
+ 2× AIM-7 Sparrow or
+ 6× AIM-9 Sidewinder or
+ 6× IRIS-T or
+ 6× AIM-120 AMRAAM or
+ 6× Python-4
o Air-to-ground missiles:
+ 6× AGM-45 Shrike or
+ 6× AGM-65 Maverick or
+ 4× AGM-88 HARM
o Anti-ship missiles:
+ 2× AGM-84 Harpoon or
+ 4× AGM-119 Penguin
* Bombs:
o 2× CBU-87 Combined Effects Munition
o 2× CBU-89 Gator mine
o 2× CBU-97 Sensor Fuzed Weapon
o Wind Corrected Munitions Dispenser capable
o 4× GBU-10 Paveway II
o 6× GBU-12 Paveway II
o 6× Paveway-series laser-guided bombs
o 4× JDAM
o 4× Mark 84 general-purpose bombs
o 8× Mark 83 GP bombs
o 12× Mark 82 GP bombs
o 8× Small Diameter Bomb
o B61 nuclear bomb
* Others:
o SUU-42A/A Flares/Infrared decoys dispenser pod and chaff pod or
o AN/ALQ-131 & AN/ALQ-184 ECM pods or
o LANTIRN, Lockheed Martin Sniper XR & LITENING targeting pods or
o up to 3× 300/330/370 US gallon Sargent Fletcher drop tanks for ferry flight/extended range/loitering time.

Avionics

* AN/APG-68 radar