“We made it a top priority to field this new capability as quickly and safely as possible. The Team Eglin testing complex put together a tremendous effort of discovery and out-of-the-box thinking to make this happen,” said Brig. Gen. Mark Massaro, 96th TW commander. “The success of the project was enabled by an integrated team, enabling crosstalk and collaboration to advance this project to completion and deliver it to the warfighter in record time.”
The Air Force Seek Eagle Office originally had a nine-month window to complete the integration, but the timeline was accelerated to meet urgent operational requirements. “An already-proven way to mount the rockets onto an F-15 did not exist,” said Col. Alec Spencer, AFSEO director. “A mount would need to be created, installed and then integrated into the entire testing process.”
Engineers and maintainers overcame the challenge by adapting 1970s-era Triple Ejector Rack-9As and LAU-131 launchers, equipment once destined for storage. The 96th and 53rd teams developed a new communication solution between the aircraft and weapons, drawing on earlier modifications created for the F-16, to ensure operational compatibility.
Testing was prioritised across the base, with Massaro ordering all other missions cleared to focus on the AGR-20F trials. Within three days, fully mounted weapons were airborne, flown by aircrews from the 40th Flight Test Squadron, 85th and 422nd Test and Evaluation Squadrons in multiple missions.
Support units provided critical logistical assistance, from parts delivery to range scheduling, enabling uninterrupted land and water testing. Airworthiness tests, typically conducted before demonstrations, ran simultaneously with live fire due to the urgent need for the system.
Following successful demonstrations, Airmen from the 53rd Wing and 96th Test Wing deployed to deliver equipment, training and procedures in a combatant command’s area of responsibility. “Our ability to choreograph multiple high-risk test events culminating in providing a complete product to the warfighter in nine days instead of 18 months is the hallmark of what Team Eglin can do when asked,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey Entine, OFP CTF commander.
