Agile Combat Employment:Air Force Special Operations Forces Train on Wyoming Highways

Exercise Agile Chariot 23 on 30 April/2 May 2023 saw U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command Airmen practise operating in austere environments.Members of the 15th Special Operations Squadron out of Hulbert Field,Florida landed aircraft on U.S. Highways 287 and 789 in Southern Wyoming to simulate military operations in areas with minimal infrastructure while demonstrating maximum flexibility.The Airmen landed a Lockheed Martin MC-130J Commando II aircraft,as well as two A-10 Thunderbolt II Warthogs;an MQ-9 Reaper Unmanned Aerial Vehicle;and two MH-6M Little Bird helicopters on the remote roads.The highways had been closed down with the support of State agencies,including local emergency services,according to 1st Special Operations Wing Public Affairs.* The Agile Combat Employment (ACE) concept uses smaller,more dispersed locations and teams to rapidly move and support aircraft,pilots,and other personnel as needed.In ACE,Forward Arming and Refueling Points (FARPs) and Integrated Combat Turnaround (ICT) are utilised.15th SOS Commander Lt.Col Adam Schmidt observed that: Having the capability to land on a highway or a road can absolutely present some unique challenges to our adversaries.We can take the concepts from this exercise and apply them to any road,and in the most austere environments.* The AFSOC MC-130J,weighing about 160,000 lbs,landed on the highway at speeds nearing 140 mph/225.3 kmh.Indeed,Airmen from the Kentucky Air National Guard's 123rd Special Tactics Squadron parachuted from the MC-130J to establish and secure the highway landing zone for the incoming aircraft.In an historic first,an MQ-9 Reaper UAV assigned to the 919th Special Operations Wing out of Duke Field,Florida made the first ever landing on a U.S. highway by a UAV.The drills were intended to help plan and execute future real-world missions.Said USAF Lt.Col. Dave Meyer,deputy mission commander for EAC 23: An adversary that may be able to deny use to a military base or an airfield is going to have a nearly impossible time trying to defend every square linear mile of roads.It's just too much territory for them to cover,and that gives us access to places and areas that they can't possibly defend.* The Integrated Combat Turnarounds involve areas working to recover and relaunch aircraft in a minimum amount of time.* The MC-130J Commando II has a mission set of infiltration,exfiltration and resupply of Special Operations Forces,as well as the refueling of special operations helicopters and tilt-roter aircraft.It has a crew of two pilots,one Combat Systems Officer (CSO) and two loadmasters.It can cruise at 417 mph/671 kph at 22,000 ft and has a range of 3,000 miles/4800 km.The CSO executes electronic warfare,navigation and aerial refueling tasks.The Commando II is to support Special Operations Forces insertion and extraction into denied areas from strategic distances.It features an Enhanced Cargo Handling System;more powerful electrical generators;an electro-optical/infrared sensor;a CSO station on the flight deck;provisions for the Large Aircraft Infrared Countermeasures System;and armour.* Lockheed Martin (LMT)