The Air Force competition has taken place sporadically since the 1950s, but its recent re-introduction follows a decades-long hiatus since the end of the Cold War.
The United States Air Force’s Air Combat Command (ACC) announced this month that the next “William Tell Air-to-Air Weapons Meet” will take place in March at the Air Dominance Center in Savannah, Georgia. The competition, named for the Swiss folk hero and legendary archer who may or may not have actually shot an apple off his son’s head, began in the 1950s to test aircrew performance in air superiority, while evaluating weapons use and aerial tactics. It ended in 1996 due to budget cuts following the end of the Cold War, only for it to resume in 2023.
“The competition brings together the best fighter and operations teams from across the Total Force—active duty, Air Force Reserve, and Air National Guard,” the ACC explained.
The meet will include some of the Air Force’s most advanced fighters, including the F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F-15E Strike Eagle, and, for this year, the F-16 Fighting Falcon.
Straight as an Arrow
The air-to-air weapons meet traces its origins back to June 1954, when it was held as part of a then-separate air-to-air rocketry competition following the larger annual US Air Force Fighter Gunnery and Weapons Meet at Las Vegas Air Force Base, later Nellis AFB.
The Interceptor Phase of the competition was held in Yuma, Arizona, with the Air Defense Command and Air Training Command as the sole competitors. Two years later, the event was unofficially named after legendary Swiss archer “William Tell,” and it expanded to include nine teams representing seven major Air Commands. It became a biennial competition that encouraged the most challenging air-to-air scenarios.
The 1961 event was especially noteworthy, as it included three jets designed explicitly to protect North America that appeared on the flight line: the F-102 Delta Dagger, the F-106 Delta Dart, and the F-101 Voodoo. Four years later, the 1965 “William Tell” was the largest in history with 16 teams competing in four categories, while Canada also became the first foreign country to participate, entering with its CF-101 Voodoo.
The competition ended in 1996, but it was revived in 2004 to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the first William Tell exercise. It then had another hiatus of nearly two decades. Although the 2025 William Tell was also “postponed,” it is back and will resume on March 6, running through the 15th. The ACC has noted this year as being quite special for the competition.
“Marking the 80th anniversary of ACC’s direct lineage from Tactical Air Command, William Tell returns in 2026 to exemplify the US Air Force’s unwavering dedication to readiness, lethality and the human element that drives air superiority,” the Air Force added.
The Air Force Is Putting Its Modern Fighters to the Test
The William Tell 26 will be unique in that it will include all four jet fighters currently operated by the US Air Force.
“Air superiority is inherently human. It is forged by the grit, precision and professionalism of our Airmen,” explained Brig. Gen. Brian Laidlaw, ACC director of operations. “William Tell is an opportunity for ‘iron to sharpen iron,’ driving our Airmen to evolve, solve problems quickly, strengthen their bonds and demonstrate lethality under pressure in a realistic environment. This competition brings our legacy of risk-taking, innovation and excellence through today, ensuring we remain ready to dominate and prevail.”
About the Author: Peter Suciu
Peter Suciu has contributed over 3,200 published pieces to more than four dozen magazines and websites over a 30-year career in journalism. He regularly writes about military hardware, firearms history, cybersecurity, politics, and international affairs. Peter is also a contributing writer for Forbes and Clearance Jobs. He is based in Michigan. You can follow him on Twitter: @PeterSuciu. You can email the author: [email protected].
Image: Shutterstock / DLeng.
