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PAF participates in "Red Flag" and "Green Flag"

..that brings up an interesting question - anyone know the selection criteria for the PAF pilots sent to Red Flag?
Looking at the pictures---none of them are young guns---close to thirty or thirty plus---that is what it looks like.
In order to fly the F-16 in Pakistan, you must first display tremendous skill in flying one of our other platforms, namely the Mirage III/V, F-7 or (previously) the A-5 Fantan. It is considered to be a great honor to fly the front-line fighter of the PAF. Hence, the only group of pilots that could be considered more "elite" than those flying the F-16s are the ones flying the JF-17s.

That said, it is common that the pilots who are sent to such exercises are a mix of new converts and veterans. You want the veterans there so that they may decipher the strategies and tactics of other participants in great detail while refining their own, and you want the younger pilots to be there in order to pass on that knowledge for as long as possible. Expect many of these pilots to be teaching in the Combat Commander's School in the future.
 
Well yeah! but I was wondering if they picked several pilots from the same sqd or was the selection a pick of the best Viper drivers in the nation? I just wanted a feel for the thought process cause Red Flag ain't cheap...

Hi,

I beleive that Patriot and Paface have put it very nicely what the group strength looks like.
 
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NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A four-ship of F-16 Fighting Falcons from the Pakistan Air Force head to the fight after refueling July 21 during Red Flag 10-4. Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is conducted on the 15,000-square-mile NTTR, north of Las Vegas. (U.S. Air Force photo/IT1 Steven Wolff)

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NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Maintenance officers from the Pakistan Air Force oversee an early morning launch of their F-16s during Red Flag 10-4 at Nellis on July 26, 2010. The U.S. Air Force is hosting approximately 100 Pakistan Air Force pilots and support personnel at the world's premier large force employment and integration exercise July 17-31 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. This is the PAF's first time participating in the Red Flag exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo/Lawrence Crespo)


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Absolutely breathtaking Red Flag 2010 video.. and the Falcon looks astounding !!!

 
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Accolades in the Red Flag.......


http://www.nation.com.pk/pakistan-ne...Flag-Exercise/


PAF at Red Flag Exercise
By S.m. Hali | Published: August 4, 2010


Earlier this month, the Pakistan Air Force made its maiden appearance at the United States Air Force (USAF) Red Flag Exercise 10-4, a series of realistic aerial war games. The Red Flag exercises, which commenced from July 19 to July 31, have been held periodically at the Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) since 1975. Spread over 15,000 square miles of airspace north of Las Vegas, the exercise is conducted over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The purpose of these drills is to give pilots from the US, NATO and other allied countries an opportunity to practise and refine their skills, in a real world combat simulation.
The participants are divided into two teams, the Blue Team and the rather more aggressive Red Team. The Red Team is composed of Nellis AFB-based pilots, especially trained for this purpose, while the Blue Team comprises various guest ‘players’. The objective of the Blue Team is to destroy certain targets on the ranges, while the Red Team attempts to defend them. Both teams usually meet in the airspace, where they engage in realistic dogfights. Vantage points afford exercise umpires, observers and visitors an excellent view of the proceedings. The major US participants in the Red Flag 10-4 included B-52 Stratofortresses, F-22 Raptors and F-15E Strike Eagles. Other aircrafts in the exercise included are EA-6B Prowlers, F-15S, F-16s and F-5Es.
The USAF hosted approximately 100 PAF pilots and support personnel this time round, and in the grand scheme of things, PAF and USAF cooperation yielded big dividends for both. As fighter tactics are constantly evolving, the PAF pilots were able to display their prowess, besides also being able to observe and learn from the air forces of other nations.

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) operated by Nellis AFB includes 1,900 possible targets, realistic threat systems and an opposing enemy force that cannot be replicated anywhere in the world. During Red Flag 10-4, more than 500 personnel were launching over 70 aircrafts twice a day, and KC-135s were pumping around 150,000 gallons of fuel daily. The pilots of PAF’s fleet of F-16Bs looked eager to push their aircraft to the limit, earning plaudits from the opposition.

All in all, Red Flag provided the participating PAF contingent challenging scenarios, and through teamwork and the integration of all the assets deployed it secured success. No single aircraft can handle the tactical challenges that Red Flag presents and this unique platform provides the opportunity to fly with coalition partners and prepare for future high intensity conflicts. Red Flag also provides inimitable training not just for pilots, but also for the whole crew as it replicates a full spectrum of threats. The Red Flag exercise covers most scenarios, strategies and tactics that could occur and exposes the crew into a multinational environment providing them with a great platform for mutual learning.



The PAF’s sojourn into the realm of international cooperation does not end with the conclusion of Red Flag 10-4, as the contingent will stay on to participate in Green Flag 10-9, also at Nellis Air Force Base, scheduled for August 6 to 20, 2010. As the fight in the war on terror constantly evolves, it is imperative that the PAF take part in such exercises which will help it execute the latest counter terrorist measures. The Air Warrior exercise at Nellis has officially become the USAF’s premier pre-deployment exercises for Air Combat Command flying units, who perform close-air support and precision-guided munitions delivery.

The new Green Flag programme is geared toward the current ground fight and focuses on air cover and partnership with ground forces. The USAF is using the Green Flag exercises to provide concurrent training to pilots and prepare them for the types of missions they will experience in real world operations. Green Flag is the premier training exercise preparing airmen for combat deployment to Iraq and Afghanistan where the USAF and coalition aircrew hone their air-land integration skills for success in ongoing operations. It also includes an unscripted battle exercise which provides units with training on a scale not available at their home stations.
The PAF’s participation in the two exercises will go a long way in honing its skills and validate its concepts, especially as the PAF has to deal with such situations in current operations in the tribal areas. In addition, PAF’s participation in this premier international exercise has helped build the international air force cooperation, interoperability and mutual support. It is also significant as both a tangible and symbolic demonstration of the deepening US-Pakistan strategic relationship.
 
Perhaps it's early yet, but it would be interesting to read the evaluation or assessment of Pakistani performance at the Red Flag - an evaluation done by other than Pakistanis or PAF - something critical
 
the-nation-newspaper.jpg

PAF at Red Flag Exercise
By S.m. Hali | Published: August 4, 2010

Earlier this month, the Pakistan Air Force made its maiden appearance at the United States Air Force (USAF) Red Flag Exercise 10-4, a series of realistic aerial war games. The Red Flag exercises, which commenced from July 19 to July 31, have been held periodically at the Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) since 1975. Spread over 15,000 square miles of airspace north of Las Vegas, the exercise is conducted over the Nevada Test and Training Range. The purpose of these drills is to give pilots from the US, NATO and other allied countries an opportunity to practise and refine their skills, in a real world combat simulation.

The participants are divided into two teams, the Blue Team and the rather more aggressive Red Team. The Red Team is composed of Nellis AFB-based pilots, especially trained for this purpose, while the Blue Team comprises various guest ‘players’. The objective of the Blue Team is to destroy certain targets on the ranges, while the Red Team attempts to defend them. Both teams usually meet in the airspace, where they engage in realistic dogfights. Vantage points afford exercise umpires, observers and visitors an excellent view of the proceedings. The major US participants in the Red Flag 10-4 included B-52 Stratofortresses, F-22 Raptors and F-15E Strike Eagles. Other aircrafts in the exercise included are EA-6B Prowlers, F-15S, F-16s and F-5Es.

The USAF hosted approximately 100 PAF pilots and support personnel this time round, and in the grand scheme of things, PAF and USAF cooperation yielded big dividends for both. As fighter tactics are constantly evolving, the PAF pilots were able to display their prowess, besides also being able to observe and learn from the air forces of other nations.

The Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR) operated by Nellis AFB includes 1,900 possible targets, realistic threat systems and an opposing enemy force that cannot be replicated anywhere in the world. During Red Flag 10-4, more than 500 personnel were launching over 70 aircrafts twice a day, and KC-135s were pumping around 150,000 gallons of fuel daily. The pilots of PAF’s fleet of F-16Bs looked eager to push their aircraft to the limit, earning plaudits from the opposition.

All in all, Red Flag provided the participating PAF contingent challenging scenarios, and through teamwork and the integration of all the assets deployed it secured success. No single aircraft can handle the tactical challenges that Red Flag presents and this unique platform provides the opportunity to fly with coalition partners and prepare for future high intensity conflicts. Red Flag also provides inimitable training not just for pilots, but also for the whole crew as it replicates a full spectrum of threats. The Red Flag exercise covers most scenarios, strategies and tactics that could occur and exposes the crew into a multinational environment providing them with a great platform for mutual learning.
 
Noobs at Red Flag - The U.S. would send what we called MR (Mission Ready) pilots that were fairly new, but only on the wing of a highly-experienced flight lead. The cluster-**** that would result from sending only noobs would be dangerous. Besides, by definition, noobs are wingmen, not flight or mission leaders., and you need experienced guys to lead flights or missions.

For Pakistan, it would be foolish to send anything except the best, because the idea would be that they in turn could relate and teach to the new guys back home. You can bet that the competition to get on that deployment was extreme.

Refueling: The rate of fuel flow between boom and drogue is very different, in favor of the boom. The boom was developed by the USAF to refuel B-52's on their way to nuke somebody, and the need to transfer vast amounts of fuel quickly was important. The US Navy went basket, because the need to do this wasn't as critical.

Where the boom shines is that it can refuel a flight (and get them back in combat or on station) MUCH faster than the basket. You can top off an F-16 in probably 1/4 the time, although I don't know the exact difference in fuel flow.

If there is a choice, boom is superior.
 

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