Naval Air Systems Command, Patuxent River, MD -

Cutline: An F/A-18C Hornet from VX-23 squadron, Naval Air Station Patuxent River, releases MK-83 bombs during a series of Advanced Targeting Forward Looking Infrared (ATFLIR) adjacent stores separation testing over the Atlantic Test Range. This phase of testing is currently being conducted to verify safe separation of various weapons when released adjacent to ATFLIR on F/A-18C/Ds. Piloting the aircraft was Cmdr. William "Roto" Reuter, VX-23 with coordination from Thomas Carron, NAVAIR 4.11.2 project engineer and Lt. Tom Frosch, VX-23 project officer. Photo by Vernon Pugh.

For more information pertaining to the U.S Navy F/A-18 program or ATFLIR, contact Denise Deon Wilson, NAVAIR F/A-18 Public Affairs at 301-481-6263 or visit http://pma265,navair.navy.mil