Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range

• Origins: The Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range (AFWR) was established during World War II to provide a dedicated area for naval training and weapons testing for the U.S. Atlantic Fleet. • Location: The AFWR is primarily located off the coast of Florida, near Key West, and encompasses large offshore and onshore ranges, including airspace and sea space. • Key West Complex: The range is part of the larger Key West Range Complex, which supports both surface and subsurface exercises, making it one of the most versatile naval training areas in the Atlantic. • Cold War Significance: During the Cold War, the AFWR played a critical role in anti-submarine warfare (ASW) training and the development of tactics to counter Soviet submarine threats. • Technology Testing: The range has been a primary site for testing advanced naval weapons, including torpedoes, missiles, and electronic warfare systems. • Joint Operations: The AFWR regularly hosts joint and combined exercises involving the U.S. Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, and allied nations, enhancing interoperability. • Live-Fire Exercises: It is one of the few ranges where live-fire exercises with operational naval weapons, such as Tomahawk missiles and naval gunfire, are routinely conducted. • Environmental Stewardship: The range is known for its efforts to balance military training with the protection of sensitive marine wildlife, including endangered sea turtles and coral reefs. • Historic Incidents: In 1963, the AFWR was the site of a high-profile incident when a Navy A-4 Skyhawk carrying a nuclear weapon accidentally fell into the ocean off the coast; the weapon was never recovered. • Modernization: The Atlantic Fleet Weapons Range continues to modernize, integrating new technologies like unmanned systems and advanced sensors to support 21st-century warfare training and testing.