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Space Aggressors join Nellis, provide challenge

  • Published
  • By Lt. Col. Mike Richmond
  • Nellis Air Force Base Public Affairs
As if enemy-painted F-15 and F-16 Aggressors weren't enough to occupy the minds of friendly forces during air-combat exercises here, a squadron of Space Aggressors has been added to the mix.

The 527th Space Aggressor Squadron at Schriever AFB, Colo., which realigned under Nellis' 57th Adversary Tactics Group in April, completed its first post-realignment exercise at Nellis last week, providing global positioning system jamming for the Mission Employment phase of the U.S. Air Force Weapons School class that graduated Saturday.

Capt. Chris Todd, the squadron's mission commander during the ME phase, said the 527th's GPS jamming activities replicate certain enemy capabilities.

"It forces the pilots to detect the threat and deal with it," Captain Todd said, "either by mitigating it or, if it's a high enough priority target, taking it out."

Captain Todd said the organizational transition has gone smoothly.

"This exercise went real well," said Captain Todd. "We've been working on getting us integrated better into these big exercises, and I envision our participation to increase in the future."

A contingent from the 527th SAS will return to Nellis for Red Flag 06-02 in August.

Realignment of the 527th furthers a planned transformation of the USAF Warfare Center from an air-only operation to one that incorporates space and information operations, as well.

"This integration is an evolutionary step," said USAF Warfare Center Commander Maj. Gen. Stephen Goldfein. "It has never been more important for air and space operations to work closely with one another. Bringing in a Space Aggressor squadron creates a warfighting synergy that will increase both combat effectiveness and peacetime efficiencies."

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