T-38s resurrected as aggressors for F-22s - Air Force News | News from Afghanistan & Iraq - Air Force Times

T-38s resurrected as aggressors for F-22s

The versatile T-38, an aircraft that’s been in the Air Force arsenal since 1956, is taking on yet another role — the aggressor jet in training F-22 Raptor pilots.

Best known as an advanced jet trainer for new pilots, the Talon will be giving F-22 jocks a workout in building their combat skills and meeting their monthly currency requirements.

As aggressors, the T-38 will provide training at three locations — Holloman Air Force Base, N.M.; Tyndall Air Force Base, Fla., and Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va. Squadrons at Langley and Holloman will get detachments of seven Talons by summer; Tyndall will get 10.

At Langley, two T-38s will arrive each month beginning in March.

The T-38s were originally sent to South Korea in 1997 for pilot training, but were returned to the U.S. in 2009 and retired to the boneyard at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz.

But the Air Force had other plans, according to Lt. Col. Derek Wyler, who manages the T-38 adversary air program at Langley. The Talons were pulled from the desert and went through a 70-day “regeneration.”

The aircraft were X-rayed, inspected and brought up to flight standards so they could fulfill their role as aggressors against the hugely advanced Raptors.

Keeping pilots sharp

While the T-38 is no match for the F-22, it offers the Air Force a relatively cheap way to keep fighter pilots sharp.

“This program will provide some great opportunities at an economical price,” said Wyler, an experienced T-38 and F-15 pilot.

Using T-38s as aggressors saves fuel and gives F-22 pilots experience in being attacked by multiple aircraft rather than dueling among themselves, Wyler said. “It’s highly desired to be outnumbered,” he said.

The T-38s are also providing jobs. At Langley, 14 contractors are being hired to maintain the jets.

The Talons will engage the F-22s mimicking adversarial tactics and weapons, called Red Air flying. To ensure challenging scenarios, Wyler said, the training also permits pilots to improvise tactics in the sky.

Wyler said the T-38 can be adapted to other missions within the Air Force.

“It’s not exclusively an adversary air platform,” he said.

The Talon is also a companion trainer for U-2 and B-2 pilots and introduces basic fighter-pilot skills for aviators selected for other operational fighter aircraft, Wyler said.