Eglin weapons testing in GoM

EGLIN AFB, Fla. - Eglin Air Force Base’s 53rd Weapons Evaluation Group will be conducting boat operations in the Gulf of Mexico and Choctawhatchee Bay around Destin, Fla., on Feb. 2 and Feb. 6-9. Fighter aircraft will release inert munitions between 8 a.m. and noon about 20 miles south of Destin into the Gulf. The weapons tests will be conducted within a cleared range safety area, and will include boat-operation surveillance. In the afternoons between 1-5 p.m., about 30 boats traveling in formation will transverse between the Mid-Bay Bridge and Highway 331 Bridge, and into the Gulf some 20 miles south of Destin. The boats will be used as visual targets for the military aircraft. No weapons or munitions will be involved with the boat formation. Some of the boats will have fake deck guns and rocket launcher tubes; and will use flares as visual markers. (Source: Eglin AFB 01/30/17)