F-16s fire Sidewinders at Qinetiq drone

The US Air Forces Europe (USAFE) 555th 'Triple Nickel' F-16 Fighter Squadron has successfully completed its first air-to-air missile firing against Qinetiq’s Mirach Aerial Target.

In the first week of deployment during Exercise Deployed Titan 06 at RAF Fairford, the aircraft fired eight AIM 9M Sidewinder missiles against a Mirach 100-5 aerial target drone. The squadron also carried out laser-guided bomb drops against surface targets at Aberporth MOD Range, which is operated by Qinetiq.

Skip MacQueen of the USAF said, 'The purpose of our deployment was to provide the centrepiece fast-jet element to the RAF’s largest annual exercise. We engaged in simulated combined air combat operations and Qinetiq provided comprehensive ranges services, which allowed us to conduct the first live AIM-9 Sidewinder missile launches against drone towed targets within the European Theatre.'

MacQueen added, 'This was a significant step up in tactical realism for USAFE missile training and provided the first opportunity for a number of the unit’s pilots to employ one of their primary air-to-air weapons.'