Last modified Wed., January 28, 2009 - 04:42 PM
Originally created Wednesday, January 28, 2009

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

The venerable A-4 Skyhawk continues to serve, in this case, as an aggressor operated by ATAC (Airborne Tactical Advantage Company) which provides airborne tactical training and threat simulation training to military forces. Photo by Clark Pierce

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."

The E-2C Hawkeye, a simulated COMPTUEX aggressor, is easily identified by its unusual eight-bladed propellers. This airborne early warning and battle management aircraft has served as the "eyes" of the U.S. Navy fleet for more than 30 years. Photo by Clark Pierce

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 8).

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.

Civilian contractors fly specially equipped Lear jets from NAS Jax in COMPTUEX missions designed to test the defensive capabilities of the USS Eisenhower Strike Group. Photo by Clark Pierce

FA-18 Super Hornets from VFA-11 and VFA-211 are topped with fuel and ready for their next simulated aggressor mission against the Eisenhower Strike Group and Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 7. Photo by Clark Pierce

The NATO E-3A Sentinel AWAC Component is the world's only integrated, multinational flying unit, providing rapid deployability, airborne surveillance, command, control and communication for NATO operations and large-scale training evolutions such as COMPTUEX. Photo by Clark Pierce