Shaw hosts Operation Iron Thunder

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman John Gordinier
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE, S.C. (AFPN) --  More than 100 aircraft from the U.S. military and NATO forces participated here this week in Operation Iron Thunder.

Hosted by the 77th Fighter Squadron, the exercise offered a chance for players to be exposed to missions nearly identical to those faced in combat.

"Operation Iron Thunder is a large force exercise similar to Red Flag," said Capt. Kevin Pugh, an F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot. "The aircraft simulated a full-scale invasion of the North Carolina coast. Iron Thunder's airspace reached from 225 nautical miles off the coast of Jacksonville, Fla., and stretched roughly to 250 nautical miles off the coast of Norfolk, Va. Realistic air and surface threats were simulated during the exercise."

The captain said U.S., British and NATO participants came from more than 30 units.

"This was an excellent opportunity for our F-16 units here to work together in large-force scenarios," said Lt. Col. Donavan Godier, the 77th FS commander.

"This was one of the only exercises that included both the Navy's older F-14 Tomcat, which is slated for retirement in September, and the Air Force's new F-22 Raptor," Captain Pugh said.

Marines based at Camp Lejeune, N.C., boarded C-17 Globemaster IIIs at Charleston Air Force Base, S.C., each morning before the exercise, the captain said. After rendezvousing with other friendly forces, C-17s skimmed the Atlantic Ocean before heading back to drop zones along the North Carolina coast to insert the Marines.

On the ground, Army and Air Force units controlled more than 50 fighters daily. The aircraft were flying close-air support missions in southern Georgia and coastal North Carolina.

"Operation Iron Thunder was an invaluable opportunity for pilots to sharpen and hone critical skills in preparation for future contingency operations," he said. "In addition, other American and European air and ground units had the opportunity to train the way we would all fight if called upon."

Colonel Godier said the Airmen of the 20th Fighter Wing "expect to be called upon to deliver combat-ready forces."

"As a premier counterair wing in the combined air forces, our Airmen not only enable the joint force, but are also capable of attacking the enemy at his center of gravity," the colonel said. "The integration of the F-16CJ, F-15C (Eagle) and F-22 gives our nation and our allies a decisive advantage in the counter-air arena," he said.

"Iron Thunder also gave us a chance to display our capabilities as the (combined air forces') first joint air-to-surface standoff missile capable fighter wing," Colonel Godier said. "It's a great example of seamless service integration and flawless joint execution."