Luke Air Force Range

Luke Air Force Range is a United States Air Force range located in Arizona, United States, and is controlled by the 56th Fighter Wing. The range is used for military training and is an integral part of the United States Air Force's pilot training program, which includes F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II training. The range is also used by other United States military branches, including the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, for joint training exercises with the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and French Air Force. The range is situated near Gila Bend, Arizona, and is close to the Barry Goldwater Range and the Yuma Proving Ground.

Overview

The Luke Air Force Range is a critical component of the United States Air Force's training program, providing a vast and remote area for pilot training and tactical training exercises. The range is used by fighter pilots from the United States Air Force, United States Navy, and United States Marine Corps, as well as by allied nations such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and France. The range is equipped with air traffic control systems, radar systems, and communication systems provided by Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing. The range is also used for research and development by organizations such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in collaboration with Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and California Institute of Technology (Caltech).

Geography

The Luke Air Force Range is located in southwestern Arizona, near the town of Gila Bend, and covers an area of approximately 1.8 million acres. The range is situated in a remote and arid region, with desert terrain and mountainous terrain providing a challenging environment for pilot training and tactical training exercises. The range is bounded by the Gila River to the north and the Sonoran Desert to the south, and is close to the Mexico–United States border. The range is also near the Barry Goldwater Range and the Yuma Proving Ground, which are used for military training and research and development by the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps, in partnership with University of Arizona and Arizona State University.

History

The Luke Air Force Range was established in 1941 as a United States Army Air Forces range, and was named after Frank Luke, a World War I fighter ace. The range was used for pilot training and tactical training exercises during World War II, and was also used for research and development by organizations such as the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics (NACA) and the United States Army Air Forces (USAAF), in collaboration with Harvard University and Stanford University. In the 1950s and 1960s, the range was used for nuclear testing and missile testing by the United States Air Force and the United States Army, with support from Los Alamos National Laboratory and Sandia National Laboratories. Today, the range is used for a variety of military training and research and development activities, including F-16 Fighting Falcon and F-35 Lightning II training, in partnership with Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

Operations

The Luke Air Force Range is operated by the 56th Fighter Wing, which is headquartered at Luke Air Force Base. The range is used for a variety of military training activities, including pilot training, tactical training, and joint training exercises with the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and French Air Force. The range is also used for research and development by organizations such as the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), in collaboration with University of California, Berkeley and Carnegie Mellon University. The range is equipped with air traffic control systems, radar systems, and communication systems provided by Boeing, Lockheed Martin, and Northrop Grumman, and is supported by United States Air Force units such as the 56th Operations Group and the 56th Maintenance Group, as well as by United States Army units such as the 1st Battalion, 158th Infantry Regiment.

Environment

The Luke Air Force Range is located in a remote and arid region, with desert terrain and mountainous terrain providing a challenging environment for pilot training and tactical training exercises. The range is home to a variety of wildlife, including desert bighorn sheep, mountain lions, and Gila monsters, which are protected by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service and the Arizona Game and Fish Department. The range is also subject to environmental regulations and conservation efforts, which are enforced by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality (ADEQ), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Wildlife Conservation Society. The range is managed in accordance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and the Endangered Species Act (ESA), with support from United States Geological Survey (USGS) and National Park Service (NPS).

Category:United States Air Force