In a historic exercise, the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC) conducted two successful highway landings in Wyoming during Exercise Agile Chariot. The MC-130J Commando II, an MQ-9 Reaper, two A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, and two MH-6 Little Birds all landed on Highways 287 and 789 on Apr. 30 and May 2, 2023, respectively.
Exercise Agile Chariot was focused on testing the concept of Agile Combat Employment (ACE), which involves executing operational maneuvers within threat timelines to enhance survivability while generating combat power. The event involved personnel and assets from the Total Force, including federal, state, and local agencies. Participating units landed an MC-130J Commando II, an MQ-9 Reaper, and two A-10 Warthogs on Wyoming Highway 287 while conducting a Forward Arming and Refueling Point (FARP), Integrated Combat Turnarounds (ICT), and taking off from the highway.
“The requirement here was clear: how do we get after Agile Combat Employment and hone the skills required to win a near-peer competitor fight,” said Lt. Gen. Tony Bauernfeind, AFSOC Commander. “This exercise is a great example of what happens when Air Commandos come together to solve problems and test what we will see in future fights.”
During the exercise, special tactics Airmen established and secured a 30,000-foot usable runway on a public highway. According to Lt. Col. Dave Meyer, Deputy Mission Commander for Exercise Agile Chariot, landing aircraft on highways that were not purposely built for it was unique.
“In [Agile Chariot], we used highways that weren’t purposely built for landing aircraft. We determined that the roads were adequate to land a relatively large aircraft like a C-130 on it and be able to conduct operations,” said Meyer. “Not just land, but conducting Forward Arming and Refueling, turning the aircraft around, and maneuvering in a really confined space. So now, we’ve demonstrated that we don’t need runways in order to project power.”
The 15th Special Operations Squadron also landed an MC-130J Commando II with two MH-6 Little Birds onto Wyoming Highway 789, conducting a time-sensitive, personnel recovery mission with Airmen from the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron. Airmen with the 123rd Special Tactics Squadron secured landing zones and operated the highways as usable runways during both of the exercise’s major events.
According to Maj. Matt Waggy, Exercise Agile Chariot director and mission commander, landing an aircraft on a highway is not a novel idea as it’s been done before, but what the participants did with this exercise matters, particularly landing an MC-130J onto a remote highway and supplying munitions and fuel to assault aircraft without the need for large-footprint logistics or any line-hauled items via roadways.
“It’s a major step in the right direction, and it provides a very usable arrow for our ACE quiver,” added Waggy. “Our Joint Force Commander can now look at these capabilities as very real options to solve real-world problems.”
“An adversary that may be able to deny use of a military base or an airfield is going to have a nearly impossible time trying to defend every single linear mile of roads. It’s just too much territory for them to cover, and that gives us access in places and areas that they can’t possibly defend,” said Lt. Col. Dave Meyer.
The MQ-9 Reaper’s successful landing on a highway has opened the door for future capabilities.
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