US Air Force F-22 pilots from the 90th Fighter Squadron at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, deployed to Tyndall AFB, Florida, from 17-28 March 2014 to participate in a Combat Archer Weapons System Evaluation Program, or WSEP, exercise. The WSEP program allows fighter pilots to experience launching missiles and fire aircraft guns in a training environment. The 90th FS deployed twelve F-22s and 170 personnel, including twenty–five pilots. A BQM-167 subscale drone was shot down on 19 March and pilots fired more than 12,000 rounds of 20mm ammunition. The Combat Archer program, which began during the Vietnam War, is run by 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron, part of the 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group at Tyndall.
