34th Bomb Squadron launches Combat Hammer exercise

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Denise Nevins
  • 28th Bomb Wing Public Affairs
ELLSWORTH AIR FORCE BASE, S.D. --  B-1 bombers from the 34th Bomb Squadron took off from Ellsworth in support of an annual Combat Hammer exercise Nov. 4.

Combat Hammer is an exercise designed to operationally assess and evaluate the reliability, maintainability, suitability and accuracy of precision-guided and high technology air to ground munitions through tactical deliveries against realistic targets and simulated enemy defenses.

"It does this by accomplishing an "end-to-end" look at combat squadrons across the Combat Air Force and exercising and evaluating munitions build-up, employment of the weapon and overall target damage," said Maj. Daniel Alford, 34th BS assistant deputy officer.

"The evaluation started on Oct. 28 and ran until the out-brief on Nov. 5," said Maj. Robert Rauch, 86th Fighter Weapons Squadron bomber lead evaluator.

"Although both missiles were employed on Nov. 4, maintenance personnel were evaluated starting the week prior," Rauch said.

In addition to the bombers, Rauch said that three F-15C Eagles from the 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadron assigned to Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada flew as "chase" aircraft during the B-1 employment of the missile.

Combat Hammer, an exercise that takes place almost every year at Ellsworth, has its differences from other training events.

"First, the weapon being employed is a Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range," Alford said. "This is the Air Force's premier stand-off weapon, providing combatant commanders the ability to hold heavily defended targets in anti-access aerial denial environments at risk."

Rauch said both missiles used were live and contained a Test Instrumentation Kit that includes a beacon, flight termination system and telemetry.

Alford added only a handful of B-1 personnel have had an opportunity to participate in JASSM-ER employment, and most of those were associated with test squadrons and weapons squadrons.

"Additionally, this mission is the [34th BS] Thunderbirds first time employing JASSM-ER," Alford said.

The importance of using this weapon can be explained from both a B-1 and an Air Force perspective.

"From a B-1 perspective, this weapon will most likely be our primary tasking during the early days of a high-intensity conflict," Alford said. "At this time, we carry more of them than any other platform in the Air Force, and we need to employ these weapons outside a test environment to ensure we are capable and ready to employ this weapon in combat."

Looking at it from an Air Force perspective, however, is slightly different.

"This weapon has never been employed in a combat environment, and it is imperative to provide data regarding their reliability during all phases of employment to commanders and units carrying these weapons," Alford said.

Rauch said that both weapons were employed within the confines of the White Sands Missile Range in New Mexico, where both targets were also located.

Alford added Combat Hammer provides a forum to ensure all the different units in the Air Force learn from each other about the best techniques, tactics and procedures used.

"Combat Hammer's evaluation of the 34th BS proved the combat capability of one of the CAF's premier combat units," Rauch said. "This event was an absolute success."