On August 7, 2024, the last contracted F-5 adversary aircraft completed its final mission supporting F-15C student training at Kingsley Field in Oregon.
This marked the end of a significant chapter for Kingsley Field, where Tactical Air Support (TAC-Air) has provided critical “red air” support since September 2020.
“Air Combat Command, the agency that funds the U.S. Air Force adversary air contracts, has prioritized increased adversary air at F-35 training locations,” said Col. Micah Lambert, Deputy Commander of the 173rd Fighter Wing. “With that, they decided not to compete the contract at Kingsley Field.”
This decision aligns with the planned drawdown of F-15C training for the U.S. Air Force. “Kingsley Field’s F-15s are scheduled to divest over the next 14 months, and the amount of student training will reduce proportionally,” Lambert added. “The requirement is also reducing for adversary air sorties.”
TAC-Air has played a pivotal role at Kingsley Field by flying the F-5 Advanced Tiger and simulating enemy aircraft during training missions. “Our role is to ‘serve those who serve,’” said Geoff Jensen, Kingsley Field TAC-Air Program Manager. “It was an absolute pleasure flying with the Kingsley Field F-15s. They are a top-notch organization with world-class instructor pilots.”
During their tenure at Kingsley Field, the TAC-Air team, composed largely of former and retired members of the 173rd Fighter Wing, including two former wing commanders, flew over 2,600 sorties, accumulating more than 3,200 flight hours. “Having TAC-Air at Kingsley the last few years has provided a significant increase in the capacity for F-15 student training,” Lambert noted.
The end of the adversary air contract at Kingsley Field is seen as bittersweet by both the 173rd Fighter Wing leadership and the TAC-Air team. “On one hand, there is a tremendous amount of pride for completing a job and doing it well,” said Jensen. “On the other hand, it is sad to see it end.”
With the conclusion of the TAC-Air contract, Kingsley Field will return to a model of self-supporting training. Adversary air sorties will now be provided internally by Kingsley’s F-15s and pilots. “When additional red air is required above what we can self-support, we will request sorties from existing adversary air contracts elsewhere,” Lambert explained.
The F-5s that previously operated at Kingsley Field are now supporting operations at Hill Air Force Base in Utah and Eglin AFB in Florida. Lambert expressed optimism for the future, stating, “It has been an outstanding and efficient operation working with TAC-Air to produce the world’s greatest air superiority fighter pilots. I am optimistic that we will see contract adversary air back in a few years supporting future missions at Kingsley Field.”
This transition marks the end of an era at Kingsley Field, but also the beginning of a new phase as the base continues to train the next generation of air superiority fighter pilots.