A military exercise involving various aircraft is scheduled for today through Thursday (May 14-16) in the Powder River Training Complex.
Combat Raider involves several types of aircraft including bombers, fighters and cargo planes. The 35,000-square-mile training area over South Dakota, North Dakota, Montana and Wyoming is the largest over the continental U.S. It’s been in use for four years.
This exercise requires the 28th Bomb Wing at Ellsworth Air Force Base to extend airfield operating hours through Thursday. During this training, people living under the PRTC area can expect to see multiple types of aircraft utilizing the areas simultaneously.
A map of the airspace is available for reference on the Ellsworth AFB website at https://www.ellsworth.af.mil/Home/Powder-River-Training-Complex/.
Aircraft involved include the B-52, B-2, B-1, Joint Surveillance Target Attack Radar (J-STAR), Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS), F-35, F-16, C-17 and KC-135. This exercise marks the first time the F-35 will fly in the PRTC airspace and the first time the C-17 will participate.
All bomber supersonic activities will occur more than 20,000 feet above mean sea level and all transient fighter supersonic activity will occur more than 10,000 feet above ground level. People living under Powder River Two, Powder River Three, and Gap B should expect to be affected, however, sonic boom activity is possible throughout the entire PRTC.
