ROYAL AIR FORCE LAKENHEATH, England --
During the event, Fourteen F-16C Fighting Falcons and approximately 200 Airmen, assigned to the 31st Fighter Wing, Aviano Air Base, Italy, focused on maintaining joint readiness while building interoperability capabilities with NATO and other U.S. Air Force assets.

“We couldn’t have asked for a warmer greeting from the Airmen here at the 48th Fighter Wing,” said Lt. Col. Ben Freeborn, 510th FS commander. This FTD allowed us to test our flexibility with unfamiliar airspace and evaluate our execution of the close air-support mission with our host nation allies.”

The Buzzards flew approximately 332 hours across 168 sorties to evaluate aircraft and personnel proficiencies in NATO operations with the 48th Fighter Wing and British allies. Training deployments like this exemplify United States Air Forces in Europe-Air Forces Africa’s continuing efforts to develop and improve long lasting partnerships in the region.

The training serves as just one example of the United States’ unwavering commitment to the defense of its allies, and its continued presence in Europe as a symbol of assurance in the deterrence of potential adversaries.

• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, prepares to taxi to the runway at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 3, 2018. The 501th FS "Buzzards" completed a two-week flying training deployment to the United Kingdom Aug. 6, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Buzzards complete UK training
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, taxis down the flightline at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 3, 2018. During a two-week flying training deployment to the United Kingdom, the 510th FS "Buzzards" flew approximately 332 hours across 168 sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Buzzards complete UK training
  
• An F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing's 493rd Fighter Squadron, and F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing's 510th Fighter Squadron prepare to take off for a training sortie at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 3, 2018. During a two-week flying training deployment, 14 F-16C aircraft and approximately 200 Airmen from the 31st FW focused on maintaining joint readiness while building interoperability capabilities with NATO and other U.S. Air Force assets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Buzzards complete UK training
  
• An F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing's 493rd Fighter Squadron, and an F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing's 510th Fighter Squadron prepare to take off for a training sortie at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 3, 2018. The 501th FS "Buzzards" completed a two-week flying training deployment to the United Kingdom Aug. 6, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Buzzards complete UK training
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, takes off at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 3, 2018. During a two-week flying training deployment to the United Kingdom, the 510th FS "Buzzards" flew approximately 332 hours across 168 sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Buzzards complete UK training
  
• An F-15C Eagle from the 48th Fighter Wing's 493rd Fighter Squadron, and an F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing's 510th Fighter Squadron prepare to take off for a training sortie at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 3, 2018. The 501th FS "Buzzards" completed a two-week flying training deployment to the United Kingdom Aug. 6, 2018. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Buzzards complete UK training
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, prepares to land at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 20, 2018. Approximately 200 Airmen and 14 F-16C aircraft from the 501th FS are participating in a flying training deployment at RAF Lakenheath to evaluate aircraft and personnel capabilities and train in NATO operations with the 48th Fighter Wing and British allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Aviano AB and RAF Lakenheath team up for FTD
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, prepares to land at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 20, 2018. The 510th FS is participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Aviano AB and RAF Lakenheath team up for FTD
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, prepares to land at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 20, 2018. The 510th FS performs air and space control and force application roles of counterair, strategic attack, and counterland including interdiction and close-air support, employing state of the art munitions in support of the joint, NATO, and combined operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Aviano AB and RAF Lakenheath team up for FTD
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, lands at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 20, 2018. The 510th FS was originally formed as the 625th Bombardment Squadron (Dive), 405th Bombardment Group, at Drew Field, Fla., in 1943, flying the Douglas A-24 Banshee. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Aviano AB and RAF Lakenheath team up for FTD
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, taxis down the flightline at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, Aug. 3, 2018. During a two-week flying training deployment to the United Kingdom, the 510th FS "Buzzards" flew approximately 332 hours across 168 sorties. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Buzzards complete UK training
  
• F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy land at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England July 20, 2018. The 510th FS are participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Senior Airman Malcolm Mayfield)
  Buzzards breeze into RAF Lakenheath
  
• F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy arrive at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England July 20, 2018. The 510th FS are participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Elias Small)
  Buzzards breeze into RAF Lakenheath
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy arrives at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England July 20, 2018. The 510th FS are participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Capt. Elias Small)
  Buzzards breeze into RAF Lakenheath
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy flies over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England July 20, 2018. The 510th FS are participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)
  Buzzards
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy lands at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England July 20, 2018. The 510th FS are participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)
  Buzzards breeze into RAF Lakenheath
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy lands at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England July 20, 2018. The 510th FS are participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)
  Buzzards breeze into RAF Lakenheath
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy flies over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England July 20, 2018. The 510th FS are participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)
  Buzzards breeze into RAF Lakenheath
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy flies over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England July 20, 2018. The 510th FS are participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)
  Buzzards breeze into RAF Lakenheath
  
• F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy land at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England July 20, 2018. The 510th FS are participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo/Tech. Sgt. Matthew Plew)
  Buzzards breeze into RAF Lakenheath
  
• An F-16C Fighting Falcon from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, prepares to land at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 20, 2018. The 510th FS is participating in a bilateral training event focused on maintaining joint readiness while building interoperability capabilities with NATO and other U.S. Air Force assets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Aviano AB and RAF Lakenheath team up for FTD
  
• F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, land at Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 20, 2018. Approximately 200 Airmen and 14 F-16C aircraft from the 501th FS are participating in a flying training deployment at RAF Lakenheath to evaluate aircraft and personnel capabilities and train in NATO operations with the 48th Fighter Wing and British allies. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Aviano AB and RAF Lakenheath team up for FTD
  
• Four F-16C Fighting Falcons from the 31st Fighter Wing, 510th Fighter Squadron, Aviano Air Base, Italy, fly over Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, July 20, 2018. The 510th FS is participating in a bilateral training event to enhance interoperability, maintain joint readiness and reassure our regional allies and partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Eric Burks)
  Aviano AB and RAF Lakenheath team up for FTD
  

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
•