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Exercise Red Flag

April 15, 2023

This article is about US Air Force exercises. For other uses, see Red flag (disambiguation).

Exercise Red Flag (also Red Flag – Nellis)[1] is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise held several times a year by the United States Air Force. It aims to offer realistic air-combat training for military pilots and other flight crew members from the United States and allied countries.

Exercise Red Flag
Red Flag – Nellis
StatusActive
GenreMilitary exercise
FrequencyThree times a year
VenueNellis Air Force Base, Nevada
Nevada Test and Training Range
Location(s)Las Vegas, Nevada
Coordinates36°14′10.32″N 115°02′03.32″W / 36.2362000°N 115.0342556°W / 36.2362000; -115.0342556Coordinates: 36°14′10.32″N 115°02′03.32″W / 36.2362000°N 115.0342556°W / 36.2362000; -115.0342556
CountryUnited States
Inaugurated29 November 1975 (1975-11-29)
(47 years, 4 months ago)
FounderTactical Air Command
Organised by414th Combat Training Squadron
Websitewww.nellis.af.mil/About/High-End-Training/Red-Flag-Nellis/
F-16C aggressor aircraft during Red Flag 06-1

Each year, three to six Red Flag exercises are held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, while up to four more, dubbed Red Flag – Alaska, are held at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska.

First held on 29 November 1975, Red Flag exercises bring together aircrews from the United States Air Force (USAF), United States Navy (USN), United States Marine Corps (USMC), United States Army (USA) and numerous NATO and allied nations' air forces.

Red Flag exercises are conducted under the control of the United States Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC) at Nellis. They are run by the 414th Combat Training Squadron (414 CTS) of the 57th Wing (57 WG). They use "enemy" hardware and live ammunition for bombing exercises within the adjacent Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR).[2][3]

Organization

The 414 CTS mission is to maximize the combat readiness and survivability of participants by providing a realistic training environment and a pre-flight and post-flight training forum that encourages a free exchange of ideas.[4] To accomplish this, combat units from the United States and its allied countries engage in realistic combat training scenarios carefully conducted within the Nellis Range Complex. The Nellis Range complex is located northwest of Las Vegas and covers an area of 60 nautical miles (111 km) by 100 nautical miles (190 km), about half the area of Switzerland. This space allows the exercises to be on an enormous scale.[4]

 
A F-22 Raptor during Red Flag 10–2 with Las Vegas in the background

In a typical Red Flag exercise, Blue Forces (friendly) engage Red Forces (hostile) in realistic combat situations.

Blue Forces are made up of units from the Air Combat Command (ACC), Air Mobility Command (AMC), Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC), Air Force Special Operations Command (AFSOC), United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE), Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Air National Guard (ANG), Air Force Reserve Command (AFRC), and Air Force Space Command (AFSPC), aviation units of the U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps and U.S. Army, the Royal Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force, and Royal Australian Air Force, as well as other allied air forces and fleet air arms. They are led by a Blue Forces commander, who coordinates the units in an "employment plan" scheme of operation.

Red Forces (adversary forces) are composed of the 57th Wing's 57th Adversary Tactics Group (57 ATG), flying F-16s from the 64th Aggressor Squadron (64 AGRS)[5] and F-35s from the 65th Aggressor Squadron (65 AGRS)[6] to provide realistic air threats through the emulation of opposition tactics. The Red Forces are also augmented by other U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps units flying in concert with the 507th Air Defense Aggressor Squadron's (507 ADAS) electronic ground defenses and communications, and radar jamming equipment. The 527th Space Aggressor Squadron (527 SAS), an Active Duty unit, and the 26th Space Aggressor Squadron (26 SAS), an Air Force Reserve Command unit, also provide GPS jamming. Additionally, the Red Force command and control organization simulates a realistic enemy integrated air defense system (IADS).

 
Two Israeli Air Force F-15 Ra'ams practicing air defense maneuvers at Red Flag 2004

A key element of Red Flag operations is the Red Flag Measurement and Debriefing System (RFMDS). RFMDS is a computer hardware and software network that provides real-time monitoring, post-mission reconstruction of maneuvers and tactics, participant pairings, and integration of range targets and simulated threats. Blue Force commanders objectively assess mission effectiveness and validate lessons learned from data provided by the RFMDS.

A typical flag exercise year includes ten Green Flags (a close air support (CAS) exercise with the U.S. Army),[7] one Canadian Maple Flag (operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force) and four Red Flags. Each Red Flag exercise normally involves a variety of fighter interdiction, attack/strike, air superiority, enemy air defense suppression, airlift, air refueling and reconnaissance missions. In a 12-month period, more than 500 aircraft fly more than 20,000 sorties, while training more than 5,000 aircrews and 14,000 support and maintenance personnel.

Before a "flag" begins, the Red Flag staff conducts a planning conference where unit representatives and planning staff members develop the size and scope of their participation. All aspects of the exercise, including billeting of personnel, transportation to Nellis AFB, range coordination, ordnance/munitions scheduling, and development of training scenarios, are designed to be as realistic as possible, fully exercising each participating unit's capabilities and objectives.

Origin

 
The United States Air Force F-35A made its debut at Red Flag 17-1[8]

The origin of Red Flag was the unacceptable performance of U.S. Air Force fighter pilots and weapon systems officers (WSO) in air-to-air combat ("air combat maneuvering," ACM) during the Vietnam War in comparison to previous wars.[citation needed] Air combat over North Vietnam between 1965 and 1973 led to an overall exchange ratio (ratio of enemy aircraft shot down to the number of own aircraft lost to enemy fighters) of 2.2:1 (for a while in June and July 1972 during Operation Linebacker the ratio was less than 1:1).

Among the several factors resulting in this disparity was a lack of realistic ACM training. USAF pilots and WSOs of the late 1950s, 1960s, and early 1970s were not versed in the core values and basics of ACM due to the belief that "Beyond Visual Range missile" engagements (BVR) and equipment made "close-in" maneuvering in air combat obsolete.[citation needed] As a result of this BVR-only mindset reached its zenith in the early 1960s, nearly all USAF fighter pilots and weapons systems officers (WSO) of the period were unpracticed in maneuvering against dissimilar aircraft because of a concurrent Air Force emphasis on flying safety. Many U.S. aircrews had also fallen victim to SAMs too.

An Air Force analysis known as Project Red Baron II showed that a pilot's chances of survival in combat dramatically increased after he had completed ten combat missions. As a result, Red Flag was created in 1975 to offer USAF pilots and weapon systems officers the opportunity to fly ten realistically simulated combat missions in a safe training environment with measurable results.

Colonel Richard "Moody" Suter, who was well liked at Nellis Air Force Base, became the driving force in Red Flag's implementation, persuading the Tactical Air Command (TAC) commander, General Robert J. Dixon, to adopt the program. General Dixon approved the idea in May 1975 and ordered the exercise established within six months. The first Red Flag exercise was conducted in compliance with General Dixon's schedule on 29 November 1975 and included 37 aircraft, supported by 561 personnel, flying some 552 sorties.[9]

On 1 March 1976, the 4440th Tactical Fighter Training Group (Red Flag) was chartered with Col P.J. White as the first commander, Lt Col Marty Mahrt, as vice commander Lt Col David Burney as Director of Operations. This small crew under Col White's leadership undertook the task of firmly establishing the program.

 
An Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su-30MKI undergoes post-flight maintenance during the Red Flag exercise in 2008.

The "aggressor squadrons", the opponents who flew against the pilots undergoing training, were selected from the top fighter pilots in the U.S. Air Force. These pilots were trained to operate according to the tactical doctrines of the Soviet Union and other enemies of the period, to better simulate what then-TAC, as well as USAFE, PACAF and other NATO pilots and WSOs would likely encounter in real combat against a Warsaw Pact or other Soviet-proxy adversary. The aggressors were initially equipped with readily available T-38 Talon aircraft to simulate Mikoyan MiG-21, the T-38 being similar in terms of size and performance. F-5 Tiger II fighters, painted in color schemes commonly found on Soviet aircraft, were added shortly after that and became the mainstay until the F-16 was introduced.

Today, the 414th Combat Training Squadron (414 CTS) is the unit currently tasked with running Red Flag exercises, while the 64th Aggressor Squadron (64 AGRS) also based at Nellis AFB uses F-16 aircraft to emulate the MiG-29 Fulcrum. These aircraft continue to be painted in the various camouflage schemes of potential adversaries. An additional squadron at Nellis, the 65th Aggressor Squadron (65 AGRS), operated F-15 aircraft in various camouflage schemes of potential adversaries to replicate Su-27 Flanker and Su-35 Flanker threats. However, the 65 AGRS was inactivated[10] on 26 September 2014 due to the Fiscal Year 2015 budget constraints imposed upon the Air Force that zero-lined the squadron's budget.[11]

Time-lapse of the ramp at Nellis AFB during Red Flag 21-1 in February 2021

The U.S. Navy operates a similar large-force training exercise known as Air Wing Fallon at NAS Fallon and the Fallon Range Training Complex in northern Nevada. Air Wing Fallon is a month-long evolution designed to enhance a carrier air wing's war-fighting ability in both the air-to-air and air-to-ground arenas, with the primary focus being for the air wing to become familiar with the complexity of a massive force strike (LFS). Previously under the aegis of "Strike University" (STRIKE U), an O-6 level command when it was formed in 1984, Strike U was later merged with the fighter community's TOPGUN and the carrier airborne early warning community's TOP DOME following those organization's 1993 BRAC-directed relocation from the former NAS Miramar, California, forming the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center (NSAWC) under the command of naval aviation flag officer at NAS Fallon in July 1996. NSAWC then became the executive agent for Air Wing Fallon.

In the 2010s, NSAWC incorporated the electronic attack community's HAVOC directorate, and in 2016, NSAWC was re-designated as the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center (NAWDC).[12] The Commander of NAWDC at NAS Fallon, the Commander of the USAFWC at Nellis AFB, and their respective subordinate units and staffs maintain natural rapport with each other in areas of shared equities and the tactical development of the Joint Force.

Red Flag and Air Wing Fallon should not be confused with smaller, but longer duration, programs that the USAF and USN run to train individual weapons and tactics instructors. In 2009, the 416th Flight Test Squadron from Edwards AFB, California, participated in Red Flag as well, the first time an Air Force Materiel Command (AFMC) unit had been part of the program.

Red Flag 22-3, hosted in July 2022, marked a near tripling of the usual exercise area, with the 414th Combat Training Squadron and the Federal Aviation Administration having worked out a network of airspace corridors connecting the Nevada Test and Training Range with the Utah Test and Training Range and the R-2508 Special Use Airspace Complex around Edwards Air Force Base, California. This arrangement brought the total airspace area for Red Flag 22-3 to 36,000 square miles (93,000 km2), an adjustment needed for the training with fifth-generation fighter aircraft, which use longer-range maneuvers than previous fighters.[13]

Participating countries

 
A USAF E-3 Sentry AWACS used to control the large number of aircraft during Red Flag exercises

Only countries considered friendly towards the United States take part in Red Flag exercises. So far, the countries to have participated in these exercises are:

This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness. You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources.

Incidents

Notable appearances in media

Red Flag was depicted in a 1981 made-for-TV movie, Red Flag: The Ultimate Game.[77] Red Flag is also featured in a 2004 IMAX film, Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag.

See also

References

Footnotes

  1. ^ In 2019, the Italian Air Force did not participate with aircraft of their own, but sent three instructor pilots who participated as part of the United States Air Force's 62nd Fighter Squadron.
  2. ^ NATO is not a country, but its E-3A component does not belong to any of the participating air forces and is directly subordinate to NATO.

Citations

  1. ^ "Red Flag-Nellis". www.nellis.af.mil. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  2. ^ . af.mil. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  3. ^ . af.mil. Archived from the original on 5 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  4. ^ a b . af.mil. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  5. ^ . af.mil. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  6. ^ . af.mil. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  7. ^ . af.mil. Archived from the original on 18 September 2015. Retrieved 17 October 2015.
  8. ^ Demerly, Tom (28 February 2017). ""Red Flag confirmed F-35 dominance with a 20:1 kill ratio" U.S. Air Force says". The Aviationist. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  9. ^ Boyne, Walter J. (1 November 2000). "Red Flag". Air Force Magazine. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  10. ^ "Nellis aggressor squadron inactivated". af.mil. Retrieved 29 September 2014.
  11. ^ "65th Aggressor Squadron Falls Prey to Nellis Budget Cuts". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  12. ^ . Archived from the original on 11 October 2016.
  13. ^ Gott, Makenna (25 July 2022). "FAA, Nellis AFB partner to expand Red Flag airspace arena". DVIDS. Retrieved 7 August 2022.
  14. ^ a b c d e "Red Flag Exercise 02-04, Nellis AFB, September 2002: Allies". Goleta Air & Space Museum. 2002. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  15. ^ a b Volmer, Jennifer (6 June 2006). "First Red Flag of 2006 begins". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  16. ^ a b McVay, Justin (11 January 2007). "Historic Red Flag kicks off". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  17. ^ . Archived from the original on 31 March 2016. Retrieved 23 November 2016.
  18. ^ a b "RAF Typhoons join Exercise Red Flag in Nevada". raf.mod.uk. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  19. ^ a b "Red Flag-Nellis 22-1 kicks off with allied forces". Nellis Air Force Base.
  20. ^ a b Williams, Cydnie (24 January 2023). "Red Flag-Nellis 23-1 kicks off". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  21. ^ "EAGLE ON THE RANGE". www.defense.gov. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Red Flag 11-2 provides Belgians realistic training". Nellis Air Force Base.
  23. ^ a b c "Red Flag for the Future". airforcemag.com. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  24. ^ a b c d e f Ruiz, Angela (21 March 2019). "Colombian Air Force supports US Navy Growlers for premier air-to-air combat". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  25. ^ a b Quevedo, José A. (24 July 2017). "Pilotos latinoamericanos en el Red Flag". infodefensa.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  26. ^ "Four American countries to launch joint military exercises". People's Daily Online. 25 September 2004. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  27. ^ a b c d "Red Flag exercises slated for July and August". Nellis Air Force Base. 15 July 2008. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  28. ^ "Canada Operations". The Northrop F-5 Enthusiast Page. 5 April 2019. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  29. ^ a b c d "Red Flag to take flight Saturday". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  30. ^ "RED FLAG". Fuerza Aérea Colombiana.
  31. ^ . Fuerza Aérea Colombiana (in Spanish). 30 November 2017. Archived from the original on 8 March 2021. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  32. ^ Darbasie, Bailee A. (24 July 2018). "Red Flag 18-3: readiness through innovation, integration and interoperability". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  33. ^ a b c Whitney, Ryan (13 November 2007). "Red Flag wraps up". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  34. ^ "Finland's participation in international training and exercises". Ministry of Defence. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  35. ^ a b "Exercice «Red Flag 08» aux USA".
  36. ^ a b c "Exercises - Red Flag Aug 08". Indian Air Force. 5 September 2021. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  37. ^ Lockett, Brian (5 November 1999). "Red Flag Exercise, Nellis AFB, November 5, 1999". Goleta Air & Space Museum. Retrieved 2 April 2022. This exercise marked the introduction of German MiG-29 Fulcrums.
  38. ^ Ridderbusch, Katja (17 February 2000). ""Wir sind gegen einen Mythos geflogen"". Die Welt (in German). Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  39. ^ a b Ludwig, Udo (29 September 2002). "Ganz ruhig, okay". Der Spiegel (in German). ISSN 2195-1349. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  40. ^ "Red Flag - Changing With The Times". Nellis Air Force Base. 20 September 2007. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  41. ^ a b Loera, Miranda A. (9 March 2020). "Red Flag 20-2: Maximizing combat readiness, capability, survivability between forces". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  42. ^ Shiloh, Kenya (31 October 2008). "Multi-national air force training exercise big success". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  43. ^ "IAF may take part in combat exercise in US". The Times of India. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  44. ^ "India to participate in world's largest maritime warfare exercise in US next year". The Indian Express. 11 December 2015. Retrieved 11 December 2015.
  45. ^ "An Israeli Defense Force-Air Force F-15D Eagle aircraft brakes away [...]". National Archives and Records Administration. 25 August 2004. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  46. ^ a b c Valinski, Steven (13 September 2015). "Red Flag 15-4: Live & Virtual over the NTTR". Aviation Photography Digest. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  47. ^ Pickering, Moray (13 August 2016). "Israeli F-16Is head to Red Flag". Military Aviation Review. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  48. ^ Shahm, Nadav (4 September 2016). "The "Red-Flag" Training Exercise Has Come to an End". Israeli Air Force official. Retrieved 15 September 2017.
  49. ^ a b Miller, Todd (22 March 2016). "Red Flag 16-2: Italian, Turkish and U.S. Forces Train to Fight Advanced Adversary". The Aviationist. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  50. ^ a b c d "Italian pilots raved about their first 'Red Flag' exercise with the US-made F-35". businessinsider.com. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  51. ^ "Red Flag 10-04 kicks off July 19". Nellis Air Force Base. 19 July 2010. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  52. ^ Stella, Annemarie (10 March 2014). "Nellis AFB RED FLAG 14-2 Update 10 March". DVIDS. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  53. ^ "Nellis readies for Red Flag 15-2". Nellis Air Force Base. 27 February 2015. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  54. ^ Miller, Todd (16 March 2015). "All you need to know about the latest Red Flag, world's most realistic aerial exercise". The Aviationist. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  55. ^ Dunn, Paul (23 October 2017). "Exercises and Deployments – Red Flag 17-4". Global Aviation Resource. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  56. ^ Cenciotti, David (14 March 2020). "Awesome Shots Of B-52s Arriving At Nellis AFB For Red Flag 20-2". The Aviationist. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  57. ^ "NATO AWACS provides 'eyes in the sky' during Red Flag 21-2 at Nellis". ac.nato.int. 18 March 2021. Retrieved 23 March 2022.
  58. ^ a b c d Åkerberg, Gunnar (18 March 2013). "Sweden hails Gripen's evolution at Red Flag". flightglobal.com. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  59. ^ "For the First Time, Norwegian F-35s Used in Red Flag". f35.com. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  60. ^ "Pakistani F-16C/D Block 52+ jets enroute to Green and Red Flag in the U.S. perform stopover at Lajes Field". 22 July 2016. Retrieved 23 July 2016.
  61. ^ "RED FLAG 2000". www.key.aero. 18 September 2000. Retrieved 2 April 2022.[self-published source]
  62. ^ Blades, Josey (17 March 2022). "Swedish Air Bosses participate in Red Flag-Nellis 22-2, exchange information". Nellis Air Force Base. Retrieved 2 April 2022.
  63. ^ "RSAF contingent participating in Red Flag 2022 exercise arrives at US Nellis Base". Saudigazette. 2 March 2022. Retrieved 2 March 2022.
  64. ^ "The Spanish Air Force in the Red Flag 16-4". defensa.gob.es. 8 September 2016. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  65. ^ "Anatolian Eagle 2016". 5 August 2016. Retrieved 16 October 2019.
  66. ^ a b Lockett, Brian (2000). "Red Flag Exercise, Nellis AFB, February 1-3, 2000". Goleta Air & Space Museum. Retrieved 2 April 2022. The Royal Air Force and the Turkish Air Force were there.
  67. ^ "Colombia's Air Force Joins Red Flag 2012". dialogo-americas.com. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  68. ^ "UAE Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jets operations at Nellis Air Force Base". theaviationist.com. 21 March 2013.
  69. ^ "Royal Air Force playing major role in world's premier air combat exercise – GOV.UK". gov.uk. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  70. ^ "F-35 Lightnings depart for Exercise RED FLAG in USA". raf.mod.uk. Royal Air Force. 22 January 2020. Retrieved 25 January 2020.
  71. ^ Harding, Erika (14 July 1992). "Venezuela: Air Force Participates In N.a.t.o. Maneuvers". Retrieved 4 August 2022.
  72. ^ antrocanal (3 November 2007). Re: 1992 – Venezuelan Red Flag – Fuerza Aérea Venezolana de 3. Archived from the original on 1 December 2021. Retrieved 27 December 2017 – via YouTube.
  73. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident General Dynamics F-111A 67-0105, 05 Jul 1979". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 14 August 2018.
  74. ^ Ranter, Harro. "Accident Blackburn Buccaneer S.2B XV345, 07 Feb 1980". aviation-safety.net. Retrieved 27 December 2017.
  75. ^ "Accident Panavia Tornado IDS 44+98, 23 Mar 2001". Aviation Safety Network. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  76. ^ "Luftwaffe: Zwei Tote nach Tornado-Absturz in den USA". Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (in German). 26 March 2001. ISSN 0174-4909. Retrieved 3 April 2022.
  77. ^ "Red Flag: The Ultimate Game (TV Movie 1981)". IMDb. Retrieved 17 October 2015.

Further reading

  • Air Force November 2000 via Archive.org
  • Air Force January 2007 (Broken Link) pdf file

External links

 
Wikimedia Commons has media related to RED FLAG Exercise.
  • DreamlandResort.com: Red Flag Schedule
  • GlobalSecurity.org: Red Flag
  • IMDb: Fighter Pilot: Operation Red Flag (2004)
  • IMDb: Red Flag: The Ultimate Game (1981)
  • 8081rt: Red Flag and Nellis AFB videos
  • Nellis Spotters: Nellis photos and videos

April 15, 2023
exercise, flag, this, article, about, force, exercises, other, uses, flag, disambiguation, also, flag, nellis, week, advanced, aerial, combat, training, exercise, held, several, times, year, united, states, force, aims, offer, realistic, combat, training, mili. This article is about US Air Force exercises For other uses see Red flag disambiguation Exercise Red Flag also Red Flag Nellis 1 is a two week advanced aerial combat training exercise held several times a year by the United States Air Force It aims to offer realistic air combat training for military pilots and other flight crew members from the United States and allied countries Exercise Red FlagRed Flag NellisStatusActiveGenreMilitary exerciseFrequencyThree times a yearVenueNellis Air Force Base NevadaNevada Test and Training RangeLocation s Las Vegas NevadaCoordinates36 14 10 32 N 115 02 03 32 W 36 2362000 N 115 0342556 W 36 2362000 115 0342556 Coordinates 36 14 10 32 N 115 02 03 32 W 36 2362000 N 115 0342556 W 36 2362000 115 0342556CountryUnited StatesInaugurated29 November 1975 1975 11 29 47 years 4 months ago FounderTactical Air CommandOrganised by414th Combat Training SquadronWebsitewww wbr nellis wbr af wbr mil wbr About wbr High End Training wbr Red Flag Nellis wbr F 16C aggressor aircraft during Red Flag 06 1 Each year three to six Red Flag exercises are held at Nellis Air Force Base Nevada while up to four more dubbed Red Flag Alaska are held at Eielson Air Force Base Alaska First held on 29 November 1975 Red Flag exercises bring together aircrews from the United States Air Force USAF United States Navy USN United States Marine Corps USMC United States Army USA and numerous NATO and allied nations air forces Red Flag exercises are conducted under the control of the United States Air Force Warfare Center USAFWC at Nellis They are run by the 414th Combat Training Squadron 414 CTS of the 57th Wing 57 WG They use enemy hardware and live ammunition for bombing exercises within the adjacent Nevada Test and Training Range NTTR 2 3 Contents 1 Organization 2 Origin 3 Participating countries 4 Incidents 5 Notable appearances in media 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksOrganization EditThe 414 CTS mission is to maximize the combat readiness and survivability of participants by providing a realistic training environment and a pre flight and post flight training forum that encourages a free exchange of ideas 4 To accomplish this combat units from the United States and its allied countries engage in realistic combat training scenarios carefully conducted within the Nellis Range Complex The Nellis Range complex is located northwest of Las Vegas and covers an area of 60 nautical miles 111 km by 100 nautical miles 190 km about half the area of Switzerland This space allows the exercises to be on an enormous scale 4 A F 22 Raptor during Red Flag 10 2 with Las Vegas in the background In a typical Red Flag exercise Blue Forces friendly engage Red Forces hostile in realistic combat situations Blue Forces are made up of units from the Air Combat Command ACC Air Mobility Command AMC Air Force Global Strike Command AFGSC Air Force Special Operations Command AFSOC United States Air Forces Europe USAFE Pacific Air Forces PACAF Air National Guard ANG Air Force Reserve Command AFRC and Air Force Space Command AFSPC aviation units of the U S Navy U S Marine Corps and U S Army the Royal Air Force Royal Canadian Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force as well as other allied air forces and fleet air arms They are led by a Blue Forces commander who coordinates the units in an employment plan scheme of operation Red Forces adversary forces are composed of the 57th Wing s 57th Adversary Tactics Group 57 ATG flying F 16s from the 64th Aggressor Squadron 64 AGRS 5 and F 35s from the 65th Aggressor Squadron 65 AGRS 6 to provide realistic air threats through the emulation of opposition tactics The Red Forces are also augmented by other U S Air Force U S Navy and U S Marine Corps units flying in concert with the 507th Air Defense Aggressor Squadron s 507 ADAS electronic ground defenses and communications and radar jamming equipment The 527th Space Aggressor Squadron 527 SAS an Active Duty unit and the 26th Space Aggressor Squadron 26 SAS an Air Force Reserve Command unit also provide GPS jamming Additionally the Red Force command and control organization simulates a realistic enemy integrated air defense system IADS Two Israeli Air Force F 15 Ra ams practicing air defense maneuvers at Red Flag 2004 A key element of Red Flag operations is the Red Flag Measurement and Debriefing System RFMDS RFMDS is a computer hardware and software network that provides real time monitoring post mission reconstruction of maneuvers and tactics participant pairings and integration of range targets and simulated threats Blue Force commanders objectively assess mission effectiveness and validate lessons learned from data provided by the RFMDS A typical flag exercise year includes ten Green Flags a close air support CAS exercise with the U S Army 7 one Canadian Maple Flag operated by the Royal Canadian Air Force and four Red Flags Each Red Flag exercise normally involves a variety of fighter interdiction attack strike air superiority enemy air defense suppression airlift air refueling and reconnaissance missions In a 12 month period more than 500 aircraft fly more than 20 000 sorties while training more than 5 000 aircrews and 14 000 support and maintenance personnel Before a flag begins the Red Flag staff conducts a planning conference where unit representatives and planning staff members develop the size and scope of their participation All aspects of the exercise including billeting of personnel transportation to Nellis AFB range coordination ordnance munitions scheduling and development of training scenarios are designed to be as realistic as possible fully exercising each participating unit s capabilities and objectives Origin Edit The United States Air Force F 35A made its debut at Red Flag 17 1 8 The origin of Red Flag was the unacceptable performance of U S Air Force fighter pilots and weapon systems officers WSO in air to air combat air combat maneuvering ACM during the Vietnam War in comparison to previous wars citation needed Air combat over North Vietnam between 1965 and 1973 led to an overall exchange ratio ratio of enemy aircraft shot down to the number of own aircraft lost to enemy fighters of 2 2 1 for a while in June and July 1972 during Operation Linebacker the ratio was less than 1 1 Among the several factors resulting in this disparity was a lack of realistic ACM training USAF pilots and WSOs of the late 1950s 1960s and early 1970s were not versed in the core values and basics of ACM due to the belief that Beyond Visual Range missile engagements BVR and equipment made close in maneuvering in air combat obsolete citation needed As a result of this BVR only mindset reached its zenith in the early 1960s nearly all USAF fighter pilots and weapons systems officers WSO of the period were unpracticed in maneuvering against dissimilar aircraft because of a concurrent Air Force emphasis on flying safety Many U S aircrews had also fallen victim to SAMs too An Air Force analysis known as Project Red Baron II showed that a pilot s chances of survival in combat dramatically increased after he had completed ten combat missions As a result Red Flag was created in 1975 to offer USAF pilots and weapon systems officers the opportunity to fly ten realistically simulated combat missions in a safe training environment with measurable results Colonel Richard Moody Suter who was well liked at Nellis Air Force Base became the driving force in Red Flag s implementation persuading the Tactical Air Command TAC commander General Robert J Dixon to adopt the program General Dixon approved the idea in May 1975 and ordered the exercise established within six months The first Red Flag exercise was conducted in compliance with General Dixon s schedule on 29 November 1975 and included 37 aircraft supported by 561 personnel flying some 552 sorties 9 On 1 March 1976 the 4440th Tactical Fighter Training Group Red Flag was chartered with Col P J White as the first commander Lt Col Marty Mahrt as vice commander Lt Col David Burney as Director of Operations This small crew under Col White s leadership undertook the task of firmly establishing the program An Indian Air Force Sukhoi Su 30MKI undergoes post flight maintenance during the Red Flag exercise in 2008 The aggressor squadrons the opponents who flew against the pilots undergoing training were selected from the top fighter pilots in the U S Air Force These pilots were trained to operate according to the tactical doctrines of the Soviet Union and other enemies of the period to better simulate what then TAC as well as USAFE PACAF and other NATO pilots and WSOs would likely encounter in real combat against a Warsaw Pact or other Soviet proxy adversary The aggressors were initially equipped with readily available T 38 Talon aircraft to simulate Mikoyan MiG 21 the T 38 being similar in terms of size and performance F 5 Tiger II fighters painted in color schemes commonly found on Soviet aircraft were added shortly after that and became the mainstay until the F 16 was introduced Today the 414th Combat Training Squadron 414 CTS is the unit currently tasked with running Red Flag exercises while the 64th Aggressor Squadron 64 AGRS also based at Nellis AFB uses F 16 aircraft to emulate the MiG 29 Fulcrum These aircraft continue to be painted in the various camouflage schemes of potential adversaries An additional squadron at Nellis the 65th Aggressor Squadron 65 AGRS operated F 15 aircraft in various camouflage schemes of potential adversaries to replicate Su 27 Flanker and Su 35 Flanker threats However the 65 AGRS was inactivated 10 on 26 September 2014 due to the Fiscal Year 2015 budget constraints imposed upon the Air Force that zero lined the squadron s budget 11 source source source source source source source source source source source source source source Time lapse of the ramp at Nellis AFB during Red Flag 21 1 in February 2021 The U S Navy operates a similar large force training exercise known as Air Wing Fallon at NAS Fallon and the Fallon Range Training Complex in northern Nevada Air Wing Fallon is a month long evolution designed to enhance a carrier air wing s war fighting ability in both the air to air and air to ground arenas with the primary focus being for the air wing to become familiar with the complexity of a massive force strike LFS Previously under the aegis of Strike University STRIKE U an O 6 level command when it was formed in 1984 Strike U was later merged with the fighter community s TOPGUN and the carrier airborne early warning community s TOP DOME following those organization s 1993 BRAC directed relocation from the former NAS Miramar California forming the Naval Strike and Air Warfare Center NSAWC under the command of naval aviation flag officer at NAS Fallon in July 1996 NSAWC then became the executive agent for Air Wing Fallon In the 2010s NSAWC incorporated the electronic attack community s HAVOC directorate and in 2016 NSAWC was re designated as the Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center NAWDC 12 The Commander of NAWDC at NAS Fallon the Commander of the USAFWC at Nellis AFB and their respective subordinate units and staffs maintain natural rapport with each other in areas of shared equities and the tactical development of the Joint Force Red Flag and Air Wing Fallon should not be confused with smaller but longer duration programs that the USAF and USN run to train individual weapons and tactics instructors In 2009 the 416th Flight Test Squadron from Edwards AFB California participated in Red Flag as well the first time an Air Force Materiel Command AFMC unit had been part of the program Red Flag 22 3 hosted in July 2022 marked a near tripling of the usual exercise area with the 414th Combat Training Squadron and the Federal Aviation Administration having worked out a network of airspace corridors connecting the Nevada Test and Training Range with the Utah Test and Training Range and the R 2508 Special Use Airspace Complex around Edwards Air Force Base California This arrangement brought the total airspace area for Red Flag 22 3 to 36 000 square miles 93 000 km2 an adjustment needed for the training with fifth generation fighter aircraft which use longer range maneuvers than previous fighters 13 Participating countries Edit A USAF E 3 Sentry AWACS used to control the large number of aircraft during Red Flag exercises Only countries considered friendly towards the United States take part in Red Flag exercises So far the countries to have participated in these exercises are This is a dynamic list and may never be able to satisfy particular standards for completeness You can help by adding missing items with reliable sources Australia 1980 1982 1984 citation needed September 2002 14 June 2006 15 February 2007 16 February 2016 17 February 2018 18 February 2022 19 January 2023 20 Belgium October 2006 21 February 2011 22 2014 23 March 2019 24 Brazil August 1998 25 26 July 2008 27 Canada 1977 1979 1981 1983 1984 1989 28 September 2002 14 August 2006 29 Chile July 1998 25 Colombia September 2002 14 July 2012 30 February 2018 31 32 March 2019 24 Denmark November 2007 33 2014 23 Finland 2018 34 France August 2006 29 August 2008 35 36 Germany November 1999 37 38 March 2001 39 August 2006 29 August 2007 40 March 2020 41 Greece October 2008 42 India August 2008 43 36 2016 44 Israel September 2002 14 August 2004 45 2009 August 2015 46 August 2016 47 48 Italy September 2002 14 March 2016 49 March 2019 a 50 Jordan August 2015 46 NATO b July 2008 27 July 2010 51 March 2014 52 March 2015 53 54 August 2017 55 March 2020 56 August 2021 57 Netherlands November 2007 33 January 2013 58 March 2019 24 Norway November 2007 33 2021 59 Pakistan 2010 2016 60 Portugal 2000 61 Sweden July 2008 27 January 2013 58 March 2022 62 Singapore August 2006 29 January 2013 58 August 2015 46 March 2019 24 50 Saudi Arabia March 2019 24 50 March 2022 63 South Korea August 2008 35 36 Spain 1994 2007 2008 citation needed August 2016 64 2017 2018 citation needed March 2020 41 Turkey 1997 65 February 2000 66 July 2008 27 March 2016 49 United Arab Emirates July 2012 67 January 2013 58 68 2014 23 March 2019 24 50 United Kingdom February 2000 66 June 2006 15 February 2007 16 January 2017 69 February 2018 18 January 2020 70 January 2022 19 January 2023 20 Venezuela 1992 71 72 Incidents EditOn 5 July 1979 Major Gary Mekash and Lieutenant Colonel Eugene Soeder died in the crash of U S Air Force F 111A serial number 67 0105 of the 430th Tactical Fighter Squadron 73 On 7 February 1980 a Royal Air Force RAF Blackburn Buccaneer S 2B RAF Serial XV345 of No XV Squadron crashed after suffering a failure of the main spar resulting in the deaths of Sqn Ldr Ken Tait and Flt Lt Charles Rusty Ruston Buccaneers were grounded following the accident 74 On 23 March 2001 a German Air Force Panavia Tornado IDS of Jagdbombergeschwader 34 crashed 160 kilometres 99 mi northwest of Nellis Air Force Base during a low level attack at night which was being flown as part of Red Flag Major Bernd Lothar Koch and Hauptmann Michael Bieler both of Jagdbombergeschwader 33 were killed in the crash 75 76 39 Notable appearances in media EditRed Flag was depicted in a 1981 made for TV movie Red Flag The Ultimate Game 77 Red Flag is also featured in a 2004 IMAX film Fighter Pilot Operation Red Flag See also EditAnatolian Eagle Exercise at Konya Turkey Red Flag Alaska Exercise based out of Eielson Air Force Base Alaska formerly Cope Thunder Blue Flag Israeli Air Force exercise Exercise in southern Israel that takes place every two years Maple Flag United States Navy Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor program Topgun Opposing forceReferences EditFootnotes In 2019 the Italian Air Force did not participate with aircraft of their own but sent three instructor pilots who participated as part of the United States Air Force s 62nd Fighter Squadron NATO is not a country but its E 3A component does not belong to any of the participating air forces and is directly subordinate to NATO Citations Red Flag Nellis www nellis af mil Retrieved 7 August 2022 Factsheets U S Air Force Warfare Center af mil Archived from the original on 5 September 2015 Retrieved 17 October 2015 Factsheets 57th Wing af mil Archived from the original on 5 September 2015 Retrieved 17 October 2015 a b Factsheets 414th Combat Training Squadron Red Flag af mil Archived from the original on 18 September 2015 Retrieved 17 October 2015 Factsheets 64th Aggressor Squadron af mil Archived from the original on 18 September 2015 Retrieved 17 October 2015 Factsheets Unknown Fact Sheet af mil Archived from the original on 18 September 2015 Retrieved 17 October 2015 Factsheets Green Flag af mil Archived from the original on 18 September 2015 Retrieved 17 October 2015 Demerly Tom 28 February 2017 Red Flag confirmed F 35 dominance with a 20 1 kill ratio U S Air Force says The Aviationist Retrieved 3 April 2022 Boyne Walter J 1 November 2000 Red Flag Air Force Magazine Retrieved 4 August 2022 Nellis aggressor squadron inactivated af mil Retrieved 29 September 2014 65th Aggressor Squadron Falls Prey to Nellis Budget Cuts Las Vegas Review Journal Retrieved 27 December 2017 About Archived from the original on 11 October 2016 Gott Makenna 25 July 2022 FAA Nellis AFB partner to expand Red Flag airspace arena DVIDS Retrieved 7 August 2022 a b c d e Red Flag Exercise 02 04 Nellis AFB September 2002 Allies Goleta Air amp Space Museum 2002 Retrieved 2 April 2022 a b Volmer Jennifer 6 June 2006 First Red Flag of 2006 begins Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 3 April 2022 a b McVay Justin 11 January 2007 Historic Red Flag kicks off Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 3 April 2022 Exercise Red Flag 2016 wrap up Archived from the original on 31 March 2016 Retrieved 23 November 2016 a b RAF Typhoons join Exercise Red Flag in Nevada raf mod uk 2 February 2018 Retrieved 4 August 2022 a b Red Flag Nellis 22 1 kicks off with allied forces Nellis Air Force Base a b Williams Cydnie 24 January 2023 Red Flag Nellis 23 1 kicks off Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 7 February 2023 EAGLE ON THE RANGE www defense gov Retrieved 3 April 2022 Red Flag 11 2 provides Belgians realistic training Nellis Air Force Base a b c Red Flag for the Future airforcemag com Retrieved 2 April 2022 a b c d e f Ruiz Angela 21 March 2019 Colombian Air Force supports US Navy Growlers for premier air to air combat Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 2 April 2022 a b Quevedo Jose A 24 July 2017 Pilotos latinoamericanos en el Red Flag infodefensa com in Spanish Retrieved 2 April 2022 Four American countries to launch joint military exercises People s Daily Online 25 September 2004 Retrieved 2 April 2022 a b c d Red Flag exercises slated for July and August Nellis Air Force Base 15 July 2008 Retrieved 23 March 2022 Canada Operations The Northrop F 5 Enthusiast Page 5 April 2019 Retrieved 2 April 2022 a b c d Red Flag to take flight Saturday Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 3 April 2022 RED FLAG Fuerza Aerea Colombiana Fuerza Aerea Colombiana se prepara para Red Flag 2018 Fuerza Aerea Colombiana in Spanish 30 November 2017 Archived from the original on 8 March 2021 Retrieved 4 August 2022 Darbasie Bailee A 24 July 2018 Red Flag 18 3 readiness through innovation integration and interoperability Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 4 August 2022 a b c Whitney Ryan 13 November 2007 Red Flag wraps up Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 3 April 2022 Finland s participation in international training and exercises Ministry of Defence Retrieved 26 February 2018 a b Exercice Red Flag 08 aux USA a b c Exercises Red Flag Aug 08 Indian Air Force 5 September 2021 Retrieved 3 April 2022 Lockett Brian 5 November 1999 Red Flag Exercise Nellis AFB November 5 1999 Goleta Air amp Space Museum Retrieved 2 April 2022 This exercise marked the introduction of German MiG 29 Fulcrums Ridderbusch Katja 17 February 2000 Wir sind gegen einen Mythos geflogen Die Welt in German Retrieved 2 April 2022 a b Ludwig Udo 29 September 2002 Ganz ruhig okay Der Spiegel in German ISSN 2195 1349 Retrieved 2 April 2022 Red Flag Changing With The Times Nellis Air Force Base 20 September 2007 Retrieved 3 April 2022 a b Loera Miranda A 9 March 2020 Red Flag 20 2 Maximizing combat readiness capability survivability between forces Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 23 March 2022 Shiloh Kenya 31 October 2008 Multi national air force training exercise big success Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 2 April 2022 IAF may take part in combat exercise in US The Times of India Retrieved 11 December 2015 India to participate in world s largest maritime warfare exercise in US next year The Indian Express 11 December 2015 Retrieved 11 December 2015 An Israeli Defense Force Air Force F 15D Eagle aircraft brakes away National Archives and Records Administration 25 August 2004 Retrieved 3 April 2022 a b c Valinski Steven 13 September 2015 Red Flag 15 4 Live amp Virtual over the NTTR Aviation Photography Digest Retrieved 2 April 2022 Pickering Moray 13 August 2016 Israeli F 16Is head to Red Flag Military Aviation Review Retrieved 15 September 2017 Shahm Nadav 4 September 2016 The Red Flag Training Exercise Has Come to an End Israeli Air Force official Retrieved 15 September 2017 a b Miller Todd 22 March 2016 Red Flag 16 2 Italian Turkish and U S Forces Train to Fight Advanced Adversary The Aviationist Retrieved 2 April 2022 a b c d Italian pilots raved about their first Red Flag exercise with the US made F 35 businessinsider com Retrieved 14 July 2021 Red Flag 10 04 kicks off July 19 Nellis Air Force Base 19 July 2010 Retrieved 23 March 2022 Stella Annemarie 10 March 2014 Nellis AFB RED FLAG 14 2 Update 10 March DVIDS Retrieved 23 March 2022 Nellis readies for Red Flag 15 2 Nellis Air Force Base 27 February 2015 Retrieved 23 March 2022 Miller Todd 16 March 2015 All you need to know about the latest Red Flag world s most realistic aerial exercise The Aviationist Retrieved 23 March 2022 Dunn Paul 23 October 2017 Exercises and Deployments Red Flag 17 4 Global Aviation Resource Retrieved 23 March 2022 Cenciotti David 14 March 2020 Awesome Shots Of B 52s Arriving At Nellis AFB For Red Flag 20 2 The Aviationist Retrieved 23 March 2022 NATO AWACS provides eyes in the sky during Red Flag 21 2 at Nellis ac nato int 18 March 2021 Retrieved 23 March 2022 a b c d Akerberg Gunnar 18 March 2013 Sweden hails Gripen s evolution at Red Flag flightglobal com Retrieved 2 April 2022 For the First Time Norwegian F 35s Used in Red Flag f35 com Retrieved 14 July 2021 Pakistani F 16C D Block 52 jets enroute to Green and Red Flag in the U S perform stopover at Lajes Field 22 July 2016 Retrieved 23 July 2016 RED FLAG 2000 www key aero 18 September 2000 Retrieved 2 April 2022 self published source Blades Josey 17 March 2022 Swedish Air Bosses participate in Red Flag Nellis 22 2 exchange information Nellis Air Force Base Retrieved 2 April 2022 RSAF contingent participating in Red Flag 2022 exercise arrives at US Nellis Base Saudigazette 2 March 2022 Retrieved 2 March 2022 The Spanish Air Force in the Red Flag 16 4 defensa gob es 8 September 2016 Retrieved 14 July 2021 Anatolian Eagle 2016 5 August 2016 Retrieved 16 October 2019 a b Lockett Brian 2000 Red Flag Exercise Nellis AFB February 1 3 2000 Goleta Air amp Space Museum Retrieved 2 April 2022 The Royal Air Force and the Turkish Air Force were there Colombia s Air Force Joins Red Flag 2012 dialogo americas com Retrieved 27 December 2017 UAE Air Force Mirage 2000 fighter jets operations at Nellis Air Force Base theaviationist com 21 March 2013 Royal Air Force playing major role in world s premier air combat exercise GOV UK gov uk Retrieved 27 December 2017 F 35 Lightnings depart for Exercise RED FLAG in USA raf mod uk Royal Air Force 22 January 2020 Retrieved 25 January 2020 Harding Erika 14 July 1992 Venezuela Air Force Participates In N a t o Maneuvers Retrieved 4 August 2022 antrocanal 3 November 2007 Re 1992 Venezuelan Red Flag Fuerza Aerea Venezolana de 3 Archived from the original on 1 December 2021 Retrieved 27 December 2017 via YouTube Ranter Harro Accident General Dynamics F 111A 67 0105 05 Jul 1979 aviation safety net Retrieved 14 August 2018 Ranter Harro Accident Blackburn Buccaneer S 2B XV345 07 Feb 1980 aviation safety net Retrieved 27 December 2017 Accident Panavia Tornado IDS 44 98 23 Mar 2001 Aviation Safety Network Retrieved 3 April 2022 Luftwaffe Zwei Tote nach Tornado Absturz in den USA Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung in German 26 March 2001 ISSN 0174 4909 Retrieved 3 April 2022 Red Flag The Ultimate Game TV Movie 1981 IMDb Retrieved 17 October 2015 Further reading Red Flag Air Force November 2000 via Archive org The New Aggressors Air Force January 2007 Broken Link pdf fileExternal links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to RED FLAG Exercise DreamlandResort com Red Flag Schedule GlobalSecurity org Red Flag IMDb Fighter Pilot Operation Red Flag 2004 IMDb Red Flag The Ultimate Game 1981 8081rt Red Flag and Nellis AFB videos Nellis Spotters Nellis photos and videos Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Exercise Red Flag amp oldid 1138082565, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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