02/06/2014: RED FLAG provides realistic combat training in a contested, degraded and operationally limited environment.
Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies, and is conducted on the vast bombing and gunnery ranges of the 2.9M-acre Nevada Test and Training Range.
This provides pilots with real-time war scenarios and helps their ground crews also test their readiness capabilities.
Gen. Robert Dixon, then commander of Tactical Air Command, established RED FLAG in 1975 to better prepare Airmen for combat missions. The concept of RED FLAG was developed by Maj. Moody Suter to simulate the first 10 combat missions pilots would face. The video highlights a number of aircraft.
RED FLAG has expanded to incorporate all spectrums of warfare to include command and control, real-time intelligence, analysis and exploitation, and electronic warfare. Night missions have also been added to each exercise.
More than 30 countries have participated directly in a RED FLAG exercise with other nations as observers.
More than 440,000 service members participated in RED FLAG since 1975, including more than 145,000 aircrew members flying more than 385,000 sorties and logging more than 660,000 flight hours.
The video highlights some of the aircraft involved in Red Flag 2014.
Credit:99th Air Base Wing Public Affairs:1/30/14
- First, an EC-130 Compass Call assigned to the 43rd Electronic Combat Squadron at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan 30, 2014, at Nellis AFB, Nev.
- Second, a Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 from RAF Marham, United Kingdom, takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 30, 2014, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
- Third, a U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptor assigned to Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Va., takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 30, 2014, at Nellis AFB, Nev.
- Fourth, a U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler assigned to the VX-31 Air Test Evaluation Squadron, China Lake, Calif., takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 30, 2014, at Nellis AFB, Nev.
- Fifth, the EA-18G Growler is a variant of the F/A-18F Super Hornet Block II, and will fly the airborne electronic attack mission.
- Sixth, an F-16C Fighting Falcon assigned to the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan 30, 2014, at Nellis AFB. The squadron prepares combat air forces, joint and allied aircrews for tomorrow’s victories through challenging, realistic threat replication, training, test support, academics, and feedback. They serve as the Air Force’s professional adversaries for Red Flag and Maple Flag exercises, United States Air Force Weapons School syllabus support and priority test mission support.
- Seventh, a U.S. Air Force B-2 Spirit assigned to the 13th Bomb Squadron at Whiteman Air Force Base, Mo., takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan 30, 2014, at Nellis AFB, Nev.
- Eighth, the B-2 is a multi-role bomber capable of delivering both conventional and nuclear munitions.
- Ninth, a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 92nd Air Refueling Wing at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash., takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 30, 2014, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.
- Tenth, an F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 30, 2014, at Nellis AFB, Nev.. (U.S. Air Force video by William Lewis) (Shot 9) 1:30 – 1:40
- Eleventh, a U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornet assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 314, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, Calif., takes off during Red Flag 14-1 Jan. 30, 2014, at Nellis AFB, Nev.