U.S. Air Force F-35A and F-15E Fighter Jets Earn Combat Certification in UK to Boost NATO Air Superiority
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The U.S. Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons at RAF Lakenheath have achieved combat certification for live air-to-air operations following the successful completion of Exercise Combat Archer U.K. 26, with the milestone confirmed after the July 24, 2026, exercise. The certification significantly strengthens NATO’s ability to rapidly establish air superiority and respond to emerging threats across Europe, reinforcing the Alliance’s frontline deterrence posture.
The certification qualifies the U.S. Air Force 492nd and 493rd Fighter Squadrons to employ live AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles during operational missions after completing a full-spectrum live-fire validation. Beyond certifying combat readiness, the exercise highlights NATO’s continued investment in interoperable, high-readiness fighter forces capable of prevailing in contested airspace during high-intensity conflict.Related Topic: U.S. B-2 Spirit and F-15E Strike Eagle Signal New Layer of Pacific Sea-Denial Strategy Against Maritime Threats
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle returns to RAF Lakenheath after a live-fire mission during Exercise Combat Archer U.K. 26 on July 21, 2026. The exercise culminated in the combat certification of the 492nd and 493rd Fighter Squadrons for live air-to-air warfare, strengthening NATO’s air superiority and operational readiness in Europe. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense)
The certification was earned after two weeks of intensive live-fire evaluations conducted from July 13 to 24, 2026, under the direction of U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) at RAF Lakenheath, England. Supported by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron from Tyndall Air Force Base, the 351st Air Refueling Squadron from RAF Mildenhall, and Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning II aircraft, Exercise Combat Archer U.K. 26 combined live AIM-120 AMRAAM engagements, aerial refueling operations, multinational interoperability training, and operational weapons evaluations to certify both aircrews and ground personnel for combat operations.
Beyond validating combat readiness, the exercise generated valuable engineering data through the use of instrumented traceable air-to-air missiles, allowing engineers to analyze missile performance and aircraft weapons integration under operational conditions. The combination of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft in realistic combat scenarios also strengthened NATO interoperability while supporting future improvements to U.S. Air Force aircraft and air-to-air missile capabilities.
Unlike conventional flying exercises, Combat Archer is the U.S. Air Force’s operational certification program for air-to-air weapons employment. Before receiving combat certification, operational fighter squadrons must demonstrate proficiency across the entire combat-generation cycle, including mission planning, missile preparation, aircraft generation, live weapons employment, and post-mission evaluation. This process certifies not only pilots but also the maintainers, weapons specialists, and support personnel responsible for generating combat-ready aircraft.
Ground crews assembled, inspected, loaded, and armed live air-to-air missiles before aircraft launched into realistic combat scenarios. Aircrews selected mission-specific weapons configurations and then executed live engagements against airborne targets while employing both air-to-air missiles and aircraft gun systems. The certification ensured that every stage of the weapons employment process was validated under realistic operational conditions before the squadrons could be assigned real-world missions.
British Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning II aircraft participated in beyond-visual-range engagement scenarios alongside U.S. Air Force fighters, enabling allied pilots to synchronize tactics, techniques, and procedures during coalition operations. The integration of F-35A Lightning II, F-35B Lightning II, and F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft demonstrated how NATO combines fifth-generation stealth capabilities with the endurance and weapons capacity of fourth-generation combat aircraft to maintain air superiority across the European theater.
A defining feature of Combat Archer is its dual role as both a combat certification and a weapons evaluation program. Throughout the exercise, the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron employed traceable air-to-air missiles capable of transmitting detailed telemetry data during flight. The resulting information allows engineers to assess missile guidance, seeker performance, propulsion, flight characteristics, and aircraft weapons integration using real operational launches rather than laboratory-based testing.
The engineering data collected during Combat Archer is provided to aircraft and missile program offices to support continuous improvements in mission systems, weapons software, and munition guidance. Combat Archer therefore contributes directly to future capability development while simultaneously ensuring operational fighter squadrons remain certified for live air-to-air combat.
Support from the 351st Air Refueling Squadron also played a critical role in the certification by enabling extended-duration missions representative of operational requirements across Europe. Validating aerial refueling procedures ensures combat aircraft can sustain long-range air-superiority patrols and rapidly reinforce NATO air operations during contingency missions.
According to U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa, Combat Archer confirms the readiness of operational fighter squadrons to generate, employ, and sustain combat airpower under realistic wartime conditions. The certification validates the ability of pilots, maintainers, weapons specialists, and support personnel to execute live air-to-air missions while maintaining high operational readiness.
Although the U.S. Air Force confirmed the use of live traceable air-to-air missiles during Combat Archer U.K. 26, it has not disclosed the specific AIM-120 AMRAAM variants employed, the number of missiles launched, the aerial target drones used during the evaluation, or the detailed engagement profiles flown by the participating F-35A Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.
Combat Archer has become an increasingly important component of NATO’s air readiness as the Alliance expands its forward presence and strengthens its integrated air and missile defense architecture across Europe. The certification of permanently deployed F-35A Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons at RAF Lakenheath ensures that combat-ready U.S. Air Force aircraft remain immediately available to support NATO air superiority, collective defense, and rapid-response operations while simultaneously providing operational data that will improve future aircraft and AIM-120 AMRAAM missile performance.
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• Land Defense News• Naval Defense News• Defense Aerospace NewsWritten by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition GroupAlain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
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The U.S. Air Force’s F-35A Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons at RAF Lakenheath have achieved combat certification for live air-to-air operations following the successful completion of Exercise Combat Archer U.K. 26, with the milestone confirmed after the July 24, 2026, exercise. The certification significantly strengthens NATO’s ability to rapidly establish air superiority and respond to emerging threats across Europe, reinforcing the Alliance’s frontline deterrence posture.
The certification qualifies the U.S. Air Force 492nd and 493rd Fighter Squadrons to employ live AIM-120 AMRAAM air-to-air missiles during operational missions after completing a full-spectrum live-fire validation. Beyond certifying combat readiness, the exercise highlights NATO’s continued investment in interoperable, high-readiness fighter forces capable of prevailing in contested airspace during high-intensity conflict.
Related Topic: U.S. B-2 Spirit and F-15E Strike Eagle Signal New Layer of Pacific Sea-Denial Strategy Against Maritime Threats
A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle returns to RAF Lakenheath after a live-fire mission during Exercise Combat Archer U.K. 26 on July 21, 2026. The exercise culminated in the combat certification of the 492nd and 493rd Fighter Squadrons for live air-to-air warfare, strengthening NATO’s air superiority and operational readiness in Europe. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War/Defense)
The certification was earned after two weeks of intensive live-fire evaluations conducted from July 13 to 24, 2026, under the direction of U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa (USAFE-AFAFRICA) at RAF Lakenheath, England. Supported by the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron from Tyndall Air Force Base, the 351st Air Refueling Squadron from RAF Mildenhall, and Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning II aircraft, Exercise Combat Archer U.K. 26 combined live AIM-120 AMRAAM engagements, aerial refueling operations, multinational interoperability training, and operational weapons evaluations to certify both aircrews and ground personnel for combat operations.
Beyond validating combat readiness, the exercise generated valuable engineering data through the use of instrumented traceable air-to-air missiles, allowing engineers to analyze missile performance and aircraft weapons integration under operational conditions. The combination of fourth- and fifth-generation fighter aircraft in realistic combat scenarios also strengthened NATO interoperability while supporting future improvements to U.S. Air Force aircraft and air-to-air missile capabilities.
Unlike conventional flying exercises, Combat Archer is the U.S. Air Force’s operational certification program for air-to-air weapons employment. Before receiving combat certification, operational fighter squadrons must demonstrate proficiency across the entire combat-generation cycle, including mission planning, missile preparation, aircraft generation, live weapons employment, and post-mission evaluation. This process certifies not only pilots but also the maintainers, weapons specialists, and support personnel responsible for generating combat-ready aircraft.
Ground crews assembled, inspected, loaded, and armed live air-to-air missiles before aircraft launched into realistic combat scenarios. Aircrews selected mission-specific weapons configurations and then executed live engagements against airborne targets while employing both air-to-air missiles and aircraft gun systems. The certification ensured that every stage of the weapons employment process was validated under realistic operational conditions before the squadrons could be assigned real-world missions.
British Royal Air Force F-35B Lightning II aircraft participated in beyond-visual-range engagement scenarios alongside U.S. Air Force fighters, enabling allied pilots to synchronize tactics, techniques, and procedures during coalition operations. The integration of F-35A Lightning II, F-35B Lightning II, and F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft demonstrated how NATO combines fifth-generation stealth capabilities with the endurance and weapons capacity of fourth-generation combat aircraft to maintain air superiority across the European theater.
A defining feature of Combat Archer is its dual role as both a combat certification and a weapons evaluation program. Throughout the exercise, the 83rd Fighter Weapons Squadron employed traceable air-to-air missiles capable of transmitting detailed telemetry data during flight. The resulting information allows engineers to assess missile guidance, seeker performance, propulsion, flight characteristics, and aircraft weapons integration using real operational launches rather than laboratory-based testing.
The engineering data collected during Combat Archer is provided to aircraft and missile program offices to support continuous improvements in mission systems, weapons software, and munition guidance. Combat Archer therefore contributes directly to future capability development while simultaneously ensuring operational fighter squadrons remain certified for live air-to-air combat.
Support from the 351st Air Refueling Squadron also played a critical role in the certification by enabling extended-duration missions representative of operational requirements across Europe. Validating aerial refueling procedures ensures combat aircraft can sustain long-range air-superiority patrols and rapidly reinforce NATO air operations during contingency missions.
According to U.S. Air Forces in Europe–Air Forces Africa, Combat Archer confirms the readiness of operational fighter squadrons to generate, employ, and sustain combat airpower under realistic wartime conditions. The certification validates the ability of pilots, maintainers, weapons specialists, and support personnel to execute live air-to-air missions while maintaining high operational readiness.
Although the U.S. Air Force confirmed the use of live traceable air-to-air missiles during Combat Archer U.K. 26, it has not disclosed the specific AIM-120 AMRAAM variants employed, the number of missiles launched, the aerial target drones used during the evaluation, or the detailed engagement profiles flown by the participating F-35A Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagle aircraft.
Combat Archer has become an increasingly important component of NATO’s air readiness as the Alliance expands its forward presence and strengthens its integrated air and missile defense architecture across Europe. The certification of permanently deployed F-35A Lightning II and F-15E Strike Eagle squadrons at RAF Lakenheath ensures that combat-ready U.S. Air Force aircraft remain immediately available to support NATO air superiority, collective defense, and rapid-response operations while simultaneously providing operational data that will improve future aircraft and AIM-120 AMRAAM missile performance.
Explore More Defense News
• Land Defense News
• Naval Defense News
• Defense Aerospace News
Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.
