Red Flag-Nellis 22-3: The First Engagement of a Fifth-Generation Aggressor Force

Posted on | by Robbin Laird
08/18/2022

According to an article written by 1st Lt Richard Caesar of the 57th Wing and published on July 20, 2002, “the future fight is here.”

The familiar roar of America’s airpower filled the skies over Las Vegas and the Nevada Test and Training Range, which signaled the start of another Red Flag exercise.

However, participants of this iteration found themselves facing unfamiliar opposition as the first, dedicated fifth-generation aggressor force took to the skies for Red Flag-Nellis 22-3.

More than 20 units and approximately 2,300 participants arrived at Nellis Air Force Base to take part in the final Red Flag of 2022. Greeting them were the pilots of the newly re-activated 65th Aggressor Squadron, and the 57th Operations Group’s dedicated multi-domain aggressor force.

In his welcoming remarks, the 414th Combat Training Squadron commander, Col. Jared Hutchinson described Red Flag-Nellis 22-3 as unlike any previous Red Flags before it.

“The Aggressor Nation will be unleashed as they refine threat replication, apply advanced threats and jamming capabilities, and increase threat capabilities to maximize training in non-permissive environments,” Hutchinson said. “The airspace is also much different with almost twice as much fight airspace and inclusion of neighboring airspace opportunities to optimize Blue and Red Force tactics.”

Senior Airman Hunter Rollins, a dedicated crew chief assigned to Lighting Aircraft Maintenance Unit, launches out an F-35A Lightning II, assigned to the 65th Aggressor Squadron, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The F-35s will be employed in large Combat Air Forces exercises, U.S. Air Force Weapons School missions, joint exercises, and operational test and evaluation events that are only conducted at Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada Test and Training Range. (U.S. Air force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Rufus)
Senior Airman Hunter Rollins, a dedicated crew chief assigned to Lighting Aircraft Maintenance Unit, performs pre-flight checks before launching out an F-35A Lightning II for its inaugural mission as a 65th Aggressor at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The 65th AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. During that time, the unit replicated tactics and techniques of potential adversaries with a fleet of F-15 Eagles. (U.S. Air force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Rufus)
Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, 65th Aggressor Squadron commander, performs pre-flight checks before participating in an inaugural mission as a 65th Aggressor pilot at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The 65th AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. During that time, the unit replicated tactics and techniques of potential adversaries with a fleet of F-15 Eagles. (U.S. Air force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Rufus)
Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, 65th Aggressor Squadron commander, performs pre-flight checks before participating in an inaugural mission as a 65th Aggressor pilot at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The 65th AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. During that time, the unit replicated tactics and techniques of potential adversaries with a fleet of F-15 Eagles. (U.S. Air force photo by Senior Airman Zachary Rufus)
The 65th Aggressor Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, and Lt. Col. Michael Albrecht, fly in a two-ship F-35A Lightning II formation from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The F-35As were on their way to the Nevada Test and Training Range to participate in their inaugural training mission against F-15E Strike Eagles. They will be employed into large Combat Air Forces exercises, U.S. Air Force Weapons School missions, joint exercises, and operational test and evaluation events that are only conducted at Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada Test and Training Range. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
Two F-35A Lightning IIs and two F-15 Strike Eagles fly in a formation after a combat training mission in the Nevada Test and Training Range air space to signify the history of the 65th Aggressor Squadron and its reactivation at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. Air Combat Command commander Gen. Mark Kelly flew his F-15E Strike Eagle against the unit’s first assigned F-35 and newest commander, Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, before the ceremony. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
The 65th Aggressor Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, and Lt. Col. Michael Albrecht, fly in a two-ship F-35A Lightning II formation from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The F-35As were on their way to the Nevada Test and Training Range to participate in their inaugural training mission against F-15E Strike Eagles. The 65 AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. During that time, the unit replicated tactics and techniques of potential adversaries with a fleet of F-15 Eagles. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
Two F-35A Lightning IIs and two F-15E Strike Eagles fly in a formation after a combat training mission in the Nevada Test and Training Range air space to signify the history of the 65th Aggressor Squadron and its reactivation at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The 65 AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. During that time, the unit replicated tactics and techniques of potential adversaries with a fleet of F-15 Eagles. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
Two F-35A Lightning IIs and two F-15E Strike Eagles fly in a formation after a combat training mission in the Nevada Test and Training Range air space to signify the history of the 65th Aggressor Squadron and its reactivation at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The 65 AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. During that time, the unit replicated tactics and techniques of potential adversaries with a fleet of F-15 Eagles. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
The 65th Aggressor Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, and Lt. Col. Michael Albrecht, fly in a two-ship F-35A Lightning II formation from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The F-35As were on their way to the Nevada Test and Training Range to participate in their inaugural training mission against F-15E Strike Eagles. The 65 AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. During that time, the unit replicated tactics and techniques of potential adversaries with a fleet of F-15 Eagles. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
The 65th Aggressor Squadron commander, Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, and Lt. Col. Michael Albrecht, fly in a two-ship F-35A Lightning II formation from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The F-35As were on their way to the Nevada Test and Training Range to participate in their inaugural training mission against F-15E Strike Eagles. The 65 AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. The F-35s will be employed in large Combat Air Forces exercises, U.S. Air Force Weapons School missions, joint exercises, and operational test and evaluation events that are only conducted at Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada Test and Training Range. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
n F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 65th Aggressor Squadron takes off with its new paint scheme for its inaugural training mission as a 65th aggressor at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. The aggressor program began in the 1970s to provide pilots the opportunity to train against a U.S. aggressor force that replicated advanced and credible adversary tactics. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)
Two F-35A Lightning IIs and two F-15E Strike Eagles fly in a formation after a combat training mission in the Nevada Test and Training Range air space to signify the history of the 65th Aggressor Squadron and its reactivation at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, June 9, 2022. Air Combat Command commander Gen. Mark Kelly flew his F-15E Strike Eagle against the unit’s first assigned F-35 and newest commander, Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, before the ceremony. (U.S. Air force photo by Tech. Sgt. Alexandre Montes)