The 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron, Combat Weapons System Evaluation Program (WSEP) West, is the cornerstone of land air dominance. The squadron manages Air-to-Ground and Air-to-Air Weapons System Evaluations, COMBAT HAMMER and COMBAT ARCHER, together known as Combat WSEP West.
The 86th is the single DOD agency charged with conducting predictive battle damage analysis of precision guided air-to-ground munitions (PGMs) using operational weapons, aircraft, maintenance personnel and aircrew. The squadron also evaluates total air-to-air weapons systems including aircraft, weapon delivery system, weapon, aircrew, support equipment, technical data, and maintenance actions.
The squadron hosts an average of 25 evaluations annually, primarily out of Hill AFB, and evaluates the reliability, maintainability, suitability, and accuracy of operationally fielded precision-guided and high-technology weapons against realistic targets protected by realistic enemy defenses. WSEP West identifies weapons system and training deficiencies and provides recommendations for corrective action directly to the Chief of Staff of the Air Force. Additionally, the squadron maintains the DOD’s comprehensive database on PGM performance and investigates capabilities and limitations of currently fielded PGMs. Weapons assessed include: GBU-10, -12, -24, -27, -28, -31, -32, -38, -39, -49, and -54; CBU-103 and -105; EGBU-15; and AGM-130, -65, -86, -88, -114, -154 and -158.
Combat WSEP West provides liaison support for pre-deployment, employment, and re-deployment of ACC, USAFE, PACAF, ANG, and AFRES forces participating in the exercise and conducts investigative firings of air-to-ground PGMs to address CAF employment issues and support ongoing OT&E efforts.