RED FLAG 07-2

Colonial Flag

In a five-week timeframe, the scenarios were spread over two periods of two weeks with an extra week in between. Every weekday two sorties were flown, of which one took place during daylight and the other at nightfall. All this adds up to nearly 1,000 sorties in just two weeks, with over 2,200 hours of logged flying time. The international list of participants included units from the United States, Australia and the United Kingdom and the subtitle for this event was “Colonial Flag”. This refers to the fact that parts of both the US and Australia once were in the hands of the British in the 17th and 18th Century.

In more than one way, it became a remarkable event. The first period was dominated by US units. Among the participants were both B-1 and B-2 bombers, US Navy EA-6B Prowlers, two E-3 Sentry AWACS, a RC-135 Rivet Joint, an E-8 JSTARS and lots of fighters. From the UK, two United States Air Forces Europe (USAFE) F-15E units, based at RAF Lakenheath and from the Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) theatre Japan-based F-15s from Kadena Airbase (AB) and F-16s from Misawa AB. Furthermore, MC-130s and HH-60s were there to provide Combat Search And Rescue (CSAR) and several KC-135 tanker send support aircraft to provide the necessary aerial refueling. The British had also sent a fair amount of aircraft to Nellis AFB, with Tornado F.3s and GR.4s plus a Special Forces Hercules.

First and last timers

The second period of the exercise started at February 5th. Many new participants entered this course and one of the highlights was the first appearance of the F-22 Raptor as a Red Flag participant. While its sister squadron just made its way up to Japan for a deployment at Kadena AB, the 94th Fighter Squadron (FS) from Langley AFB, Virginia, brought 14 of its F-22s to Nellis AFB. With that, it also became the first Red Flag in which all three different stealth-model aircraft (B-2A, F-22A and F-117A) were integrated into the exercise. The B-2s from Whiteman AFB, Missouri already participated earlier in the two weeks of the first period and the F-117s had flown in from Holloman AFB, New Mexico just a few days before the second period started off. Various sources within the USAF indicated that it could very well be the last time ever that the F-117 Nighthawk will be attending a Red Flag exercise, since its retirement is scheduled for 2008 and the 49th Fighter Wing will transition to the F-22 Raptor.

The 522nd FS from Cannon AFB, New Mexico was also a last timer at this event. This F-16 unit faces disestablishment together with its remaining sister squadron due to Base Realignment And Closure (BRAC) list 2005 soon. Another participant that most likely made its last appearance at Nellis AFB is the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) F-111C Aardvark. Although no good alternatives have presented themselves, the current plan is to keep these aircraft in service until 2010. Besides six F-111 “Pigs”, also two RAAF C-130s came along for participation. Other foreigners in this second period were again the British, which remained present with Tornado GR.4 aircraft and a single Hercules. Finally, a rather uncommon participation came from the 85th Test and Evaluation Squadron (TES). This unit, which is normally based at Eglin AFB, Florida, brought along six F-16s, five F-15Cs and a single F-15E.

Unfair advantage

From the start, this time the Blue Forces had a so-called unfair advantage on their side; the F-22 Raptor. Just because the advanced capabilities of this aircraft exceeds all others, it was very hard but yet a challenge for the aggressor F-15s and F-16s to maintain the Red Forces threat stand strong against these superior fighters. “I can’t see the damn thing,” said SQNLDR Stephen Chappell, “It won’t let me put a weapons system on it, even when I can see it visually through the canopy and that annoys the hell out of me.” But according to 94th FS Commander, Lt. Col. Dirk Smith, this has been the best simulated lethal enemy threat a unit could wish for and definitely not just a walk in the park! “The training provided by the Red Flag adversaries is like no other on earth.” said Colonel Smith. “Our pilots are experiencing a tremendous learning curve.” And yet another milestone in the boosted career of the Raptor occurred, because this was actually the first time ever for F-22s to interact with coalition forces.

Sharing the knowledge

For logistic reasons, the Red Flag organization created a week in between the two periods to allow participants to move in and out of Nellis AFB more easily than before. At the same time, units that stayed for the second period were able to get some additional time over the Nellis ranges for training and for maintenance purposes. This new planning seems to have been a success and will probably find a continuance in the planning of future exercises.

Without any doubt, Red Flag still is one of the worlds leading exercises. It has the ability to create a complete wartime scenario over a 3 million acre range area in which the Blue Forces have to fight against the Red Forces. After a mission, all participants can actually review their own actions and analyze if those contributed to and had effect on the goals that the Blue Forces had to achieve. But the exercise also unites air forces from all over the world to share their knowledge and skills.

There is something to learn for everyone

We are part of the US Air Force, but interact mostly with NATO forces since we are based in Europe. Our participation in Red Flag allows us to keep connected with other American units, learn from them and share some of our own experience with them in return.

492nd Fighter Squadron

Pilots from the 492nd FS, normally based at RAF Lakenheath, United Kingdom, explain: “We are part of the US Air Force, but interact mostly with NATO forces since we are based in Europe”. “The same goes for our colleagues from Kadena and Misawa, as they frequently train with the Japanese Air Self Defense Force (JASDF).”. “Our participation in Red Flag allows us to keep connected with other American units, learn from them and share some of our own experience with them in return.”. For the 492nd “Madhatters” this exercise will also be a valuable step towards their next AEF deployment cycle that is coming up in the near future. “Here we actually meet the units that we will be deploying with later on and already learn to understand each others capabilities, limitations and work preferences.”. “On deployment you are dealing with a potential threat situation on a daily basis and already from the start you now avoid most of the adaptation problems an AEF can experience.”. “That will keep you more focused on the actual mission, rather than having to solve issues among each other.”. As for the Mathatters, they are on a real warpath. After completing the first period of Red Flag 07-2, they flew directly to Barksdale AFB, Louisiana to participate in exercise Green Flag East.

So on all grounds, this event had a special value to its participants and again proved to be an essential training program for both US and coalition forces around the globe. Interaction and learning is the key to a successful operation and Red Flag will continue to provide the knowledge and support.

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