CAPEX23

U.S. Airmen from the 48th Munitions Squadron, and RAF personnel from the 93rd Expeditionary Squadron, assemble munitions during the Combat Ammunition Production Exercise on RAF Fairford, England, Aug. 10, 2023. CAPEX bolsters munition combat readiness by assessing and refining tactics, techniques and procedures ensuring effectiveness in real-world taskings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Delanie Brown)

CAPEX23

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dillon Logston, 48th Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance crew chief, and U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Hector Medina,48th Munitions Squadron line delivery crew chief, assemble RAF munitions during the Combat Ammunition Production Exercise on RAF Fairford, England, Aug. 10, 2023. The 48th MUNS store, transport, inspect, track, maintain and construct all forms of ammunition and explosives for the fighter squadrons and their supporting units. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Delanie Brown)

CAPEX23

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dillon Logston, 48th Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance crew chief, and RAF personnel from the 93rd Expeditionary Squadron, assemble RAF munitions during the Combat Ammunition Production Exercise on RAF Fairford, England, Aug. 10, 2023. CAPEX bolsters munition combat readiness by assessing and refining tactics, techniques and procedures ensuring effectiveness in real-world taskings. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Delanie Brown)

CAPEX23

U.S. Airmen from the 48th Munitions Squadron and RAF personnel from the 93rd Expeditionary Squadron, arrange munitions during the Combat Ammunition Production Exercise on RAF Fairford, England, Aug. 10, 2023. CAPEX reinforces combat planning and production concepts needed to mass produce munitions at a simulated wartime tempo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Delanie Brown)

CAPEX23

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dillon Logston, 48th Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance crew chief, and RAF personnel from the 93rd Expeditionary Squadron, move an ammunition cart during the Combat Ammunition Production Exercise on RAF Fairford, England, Aug. 10, 2023. CAPEX is a non-rated, non-aircraft, mass, live-munitions production exercise in support of air tasking orders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Delanie Brown)

CAPEX23

U.S. Airmen assigned to the 48th Munitions Squadron work alongside RAF personnel, assigned to the 93rd Expeditionary Squadron during the Combat Ammunition Production Exercise on RAF Fairford, England, Aug. 10, 2023. CAPEX reinforces combat planning and production concepts needed to mass produce munitions at a simulated wartime tempo. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Delanie Brown)

CAPEX23

U.S. Airmen and RAF personnel, assigned to the 48th Munitions Squadron and the 93rd Expeditionary Squadron assemble munitions during the Combat Ammunition Production Exercise on RAF Fairford, England, Aug. 10, 2023. CAPEX is a non-rated, non-aircraft, mass, live-munitions production exercise in support of air tasking orders. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Delanie Brown)

CAPEX23

Published Aug. 18, 2023
By Airman 1st Class Seleena Muhammad-Ali
48th Fighter Wing

ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --

U.S. Air Force Airmen from the 48th Munitions Squadron conducted the first-ever Combat Ammunition Production Exercise (CAPEX) with the Royal Air Force from Aug. 7-11, 2023.

CAPEX is a non-rated, non-aircraft, live-munitions production exercise that provides the logistics community an opportunity to evaluate munitions' combat readiness, base support plan adequacy, tactics, techniques, and procedures.

CAPEX demonstrates the capability of the 48th MUNS to operate in a simulated wartime tempo and mass-produce munitions to meet a near-zero notice timeline.

"The exercise will help us pinpoint where we can improve our processes, resource and equipment limitations, and training refinements to be able to work faster and generate munitions as quickly and efficiently as possible," said U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Dillon Logston, 48th Munitions Squadron conventional maintenance crew chief.

Throughout the United States Air Forces in Europe – Air Forces Africa, CAPEX provided an opportunity to work closely with NATO partners and allies, enhancing interoperability and strengthening relationships between military forces. U.S. Airmen from the 48th Fighter Wing, 501st Combat Support Wing, 28th Bomb Wing, and the Royal Air Force 93rd Expeditionary Squadron participated in the exercise.

"Lessons learned from each other allow us to bring new ideas and processes home to integrate what works well and create a relationship of learning between our services. So, if and when the time comes, we have a better understanding of how we operate together in an execution environment," said Logston. "It gives all munitions members and exercise participants the experience of working through that environment and provides peace of mind to our leaders that when the time comes, members of the 48th Munitions Squadron can and will rise to the occasion," said Logston.

By allowing forces to integrate, U.S. Air Force and RAF members gained new and valuable information about each other's operational and technical methods, paving the way for seamless cooperation in real-world scenarios.

"We are proving that the ACE concept can take our people anywhere in the world to strengthen forces with our NATO allies and partners," said the Royal Air Force Chief Technician in charge of the explosives storage area assigned to the 93rd Expeditionary Squadron at RAF Marham. "Our role is to bolster the U.S. bomb building team to help them build as many bombs as possible in the quickest time possible. At the same time, we are here to provide our UK assets to bolster the bomb prep output."