NAS Jacksonville hosts COMPUTEX hostiles

[tigershark]

NAS Jacksonville hosts COMPUTEX hostiles
COMPTUEX: Strike group runs scenarios with multiple aircraft to ready for upcoming deployment NAS Jacksonville hosts COMPTUEX hostiles

By Clark Pierce, Editor

For the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) strike group, COMPTUEX (Composite Training Unit Exercise) represents a critical training opportunity that evaluates how well its ships and aircraft operate together to nullify threats from air, surface, submarine and information warfare.

For most of January, the NAS Jax flight line has been home to an unusual collection of aircraft representing "simulated hostile air forces" intent on penetrating the defenses of the Eisenhower Strike Group.

"You won't see a more interesting mix of military and civilian aircraft outside of an air show," said NAS Jax Airfield Facilities Manager Bill Meyer. "We're hosting Super Hornets, Skyhawks, NATO E-3 AWACS, Hawker Hunters, Kfir F-21s, E-2 Hawkeyes, some Lear jets, a Gulfstream G-1, and C-2 Greyhounds."
Through its 21-day series of graded exercise scenarios, COMPTUEX measures battle readiness of the strike group for its upcoming deployment. Key to the strike group's work-up cycle, it means long days (and nights) of flight operations on board both NAS Jacksonville and USS Eisenhower.

Carrier Strike Group 8 is comprised of USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, DESRON 28, including guided-missile cruiser USS Anzio (CG 68), guided-missile destroyers USS Ramage (DDG 61) and USS Mason (DDG 87), Los Angeles-class submarine USS Newport News (SSN 750) and fast combat support ship USNS Arctic (T-AOE .
Carrier Air Wing 7 includes Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 125 "Tigertails," VFA-103, VFA-131 "Wildcats," VFA-143 "Pukin' Dogs," VFA-83 "Rampagers," Electronic Attack (VAQ) Squadron 140 "Patriots," and the HS-5 "Nightdippers" from NAS Jacksonville.

Source
http://www.jaxairnews.com/stories/012909/mil_comptuex_001.xml.shtml

[tigershark]

Didn't know F-21's were still flying thought they were retired years ago and some returned to Israel.

[Webmaster]

Indeed, they were returned to Israel in 1989.

They are of a civilian company (ATAC - Airborne Tactical Advantage Company) that provides airborne tactical training, but mostly threat simulation. They also got the Skyhawk and Hawker Hunter. http://www.atacusa.com/

The Skyhawks (also ex-Israeli) may also be from from ATSI (Advanced Training Systems International), similar company providing tactical training, but also flight and maintenance training.  http://www.atsifightertraining.com

Learjets/Gulfstream may also come from some company, simulating radar targets / EW threats against the fleet, or towing targets.

In Europe BAE got Skyhawks in Germany for target towing for the Luftwaffe.