The U.S. Air Force recently wrapped up its first William Tell Air-to-Air Competition in nearly two decades as a significant milestone in air combat readiness. The event, held at the Air Dominance Center here, pitted airmen from the active, reserve, and guard wings against each other in air superiority, weapons and tactics used, weapons loading, maintenance, command and control, intelligence, and weapons director competitions.
“The first rule of fierce competitors is when the competition is over, we celebrate and we congratulate the winners,” said Gen. Mark Kelly, commander of Air Combat Command. During the week’s event, the abilities of the F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, and the F-15 Eagle and Strike Eagle units from multiple Air Combat Command, Pacific Air Force, and Air National Guard units were highlighted.
Winners were announced at the William Tell 2023 closing ceremonies final day. Some of the more significant awards announced included the 3rd Wing and the 366th FW, 388th/419th FW Major Richard I. Bong Fighter Integration Trophy, and 158th FW Brigadier General Robin Olds Top F-35 Wing Award. Lt. Gen. Russ Mack, Air Combat Command deputy commander, emphasized the need to take the camaraderie, and the lessons, home with them to further unite their units, improve mission readiness, and build a culture of competitive endurance.
Today the question of the U.S. fighter fleet of the future resides with the F-15EX Eagle II, one that is more advanced and a fresher variant of the legacy F-15. The new aircraft provides capabilities that its supposed superiors, the F-22 and F-35, couldn’t include: extra range and the capability to bring in as many as 22 air-to-air missiles, Skid Woodford, a long-serving pilot for the F-15 Eagle, said. “All you give up is stealth,” he said, noting that the robust airframe and strong radar make the F-15EX a doubly formidable asset.
The team also has 144 F-15EXs to fulfill the commitment made by the Air Force. The first two Force Exemplars are currently in testing at Eglin AFB, Florida. The move has also begun to have implications for the F-35 program as it begins to budget for and buy fewer aircraft annually. The other legacy fighter, the F-16, has seen a resurgence, with higher-level discussions about limiting F-35 purchases and investing in new F-16s.
The F-22 Raptor, once hailed as the pinnacle of air superiority has never downed an enemy aircraft. from production was capped at 187 units, against an original target of 750. The Department of Defense turned its focus to the F-35, which was multi-role and included the ability to perform intelligence, surveillance, reconnaissance, and electronic warfare missions. Lockheed retooled much of the F-22 production infrastructure toward the F-35, which means that it would be prohibitively expensive to reopen an F-22 production facility.
Yet, despite production cessation, the F-22 will stay in the operational fleet until Congress authorizes its retirement. Evolving air combat and the return of such legacy fighters as the F-15EX only underline how dynamic this sphere is and the never-ending pursuit of air supremacy.