Air Defense Weapons Center

Established in 1967, the Air Defense Weapons Center was a major training center for fighter-interceptor pilots. It was established after the closure of Vincent Air Force Base, Arizona and its transfer to the U.S. Marine Corps and establishment as Marine Corps Air Station Yuma. Air Defense Command, later redesignated Aerospace Defense Command, conducted gunnery training, air-to-air missile training and radar interceptor training at the school. It was a huge operation, maintaining large numbers of various interceptor aircraft, trainers, and drones for aerial targets.

With the inactivation of Aerospace Defense Command in 1979, the Center reorganized on 1 July 1981, relieving the Commander of the day-to-day management of operations, aircraft maintenance, and test efforts. This reorganization did not change the mission of the Weapons Center, though it did change how it operated.[2]

A new organization was activated, the 325th Fighter Weapons Wing (FWW). The 325th FWW, through its subordinate units, conducted an extensive training program for air defense aircrews and weapons controllers; the USAF Interceptor Weapons School (IWS) trained instructors in all phases of interceptor weapons systems and employment. The Center continued its work in developing, validating, and testing air defense doctrine, tactics, and procedures, as well as development and standardization of fighter weapons techniques and training methods.[2]

Previously, F-106 training was conducted by the 2d Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron (FITS). This unit was re-designated the 2d Fighter Weapons Squadron (FWS) on 1 February 1982. The 2d FWS's mission continued to be F-106 training with plans to convert to the F-15 starting in the fall of 1983.[2]

The 95th Fighter Interceptor Training Squadron, also a part of the Weapons Center, provided T-33 qualification and upgrade training as well as support for 2d FWS aircrew training, weapons controller training, and target support for air defense exercises. Additionally, All continental USAF sub-scale and full-scale drone aerial target operations were consolidated in the 82d Tactical Aerial Targets Squadron (TATS).[2]

North American QF-100 Super Sabre target drones on the flight line Tyndall Air Force Base, Florida, on 25 April 1990[3]

Training programs conducted by the Center included Copper Flag and Checkered Flag. Copper Flag was the equivalent of TAC's Red Flag, and was held at the ADWC. The first Copper Flag exercise was held in April 1982. It provided aircrew, weapons controller, and command and control training against enemy tactics and capabilities in scenarios covering the full range of attack and defense options. Checkered Flag exercises provided aircrew and ground personnel training in operating from a deployed location. ADTAC forces study and execute carefully developed plans related to deploying to a specific staging base, and operating from that base throughout all aspects of their mission.[2]

Brigadier General Charles A. Horner, the USAF Air Defense Weapons Center commander, flew in the 325th Tactical Training Wing's first F-15 Eagle on 7 December 1983.[4] The center was inactivated on 12 September 1991. First Air Force held a change of command and was officially relocated from Langley AFB, Virginia, to Tyndall AFB, Florida.[4] On 1 October the 325th Tactical Training Wing was re-designated as the 325th Fighter Wing, when it implemented the objective wing organization. Today, the 325th Fighter Wing remains at Tyndall AFB providing air dominance training for F-22 Raptor pilots.[4]

• Established as the Air Defense Weapons Center activated and organized on 31 October 1967
• Redesignated United States Air Force Air Defense Weapons Center on 1 March 1981

Inactivated on 12 September 1991