AL DHAFRA AIR BASE, United Arab Emirates -- The 380th Air Expeditionary Wing partnered with the 378th Air Expeditionary Wing, Prince Sultan Air Base, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and the 379th Air Expeditionary Wing, Al Udeid Air Base, Qatar, to conduct a regional training exercise.
Each wing brought its own specialty to the training, demonstrated through their aircraft.
The 378th AEW showcased their F-15C Eagle, which is an all-weather, extremely maneuverable, tactical fighter designed to permit the Air Force to gain and maintain air supremacy over the battlefield.
While the KC-135 Stratotanker represented the 379th AEW by providing core aerial refueling capability for the exercise, just as it has for more than 60 years.
As U.S. Air Forces Central Command’s most diverse wing, the 380th AEW provides unmatched support to U.S. Central Command priorities through rapid global mobility, global strike, air and space superiority, command and control, and intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance capability.
380th AEW provided the E-3 Sentry, which gives an accurate, real-time picture of the battlespace to the Joint Air Operations Center.
It was accompanied by the EC-130H Compass Call that disrupts enemy command and control communications and limits adversary coordination essential for enemy force management.
Finally, the F-35A Lightning II rounded out the trio. It provides next-generation stealth, enhanced situational awareness, and reduced vulnerability for the United States and allied nations.
On the ground the 727th Expeditionary Air Control Squadron, participated by providing 24/7 battle management and tactical control of all assets in the Arabian Gulf. The 727th EACS provides critical persistence radar, communication and datalink feeds to coalition assets
The synergy created by the different platforms working together provide AFCENT the capability to deter and defend the region. The training is vital to all involved parties.
“It is critical to maximize our training opportunities in a deployed environment,” said Brig. Gen. Larry Broadwell, 380th AEW commander. “Sharpening our skills here improves our ability to defend the nation’s regional interests. We will aggressively pursue future training opportunities with our Joint and coalition teammates … with a team like ours, there’s nothing we can’t do.”