Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Arrives in U.S. for exercise Red Flag

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Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) Arrives in U.S. for exercise Red Flag
AUSTRALIA - 20 FEBRUARY 2010

Australian forces will join the US and UK for the two week multinational exercise that concludes on 5 March.

Royal Australian Air Force aircraft and personnel have arrived at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to participate in the United States Air Force’s most advanced international air combat training activity, Exercise Red Flag, which commences on Sunday 21 February.

No 77 Squadron from RAAF Base Williamtown are leading the activity, with eight F/A-18 Hornet fighter jet aircraft and approximately 160 Air Force personnel from across Australia deploying to Exercise Red Flag to conduct complex air combat missions at one of the world’s best training facilities.

Australian forces will join the US and UK for the two week multinational exercise that concludes on 5 March.

Commander Air Combat Group, Air Commodore Mel Hupfeld, has highlighted the value of Air Force’s participation in the exercise.

“Exercise Red Flag involves a series of air combat scenarios that test operational air and ground crews to the highest level. It provides the ultimate environment in which our Air Force personnel can showcase their extraordinary abilities in a deployed scenario,” Air Commodore Hupfeld said.

“Exercise Red Flag provides a level of operational simulation not available in Australia or the region, and regular participation is a major contributor to Australia’s high standard of air combat capability,” Air Commodore Hupfeld said.

The large scale exercise will involve experienced aircrews from the different air forces flying Strike, Electronic Warfare, Tactical Transport, Fighter Escort, Airborne Warning and Control and Air to Air refuelling aircraft against dedicated defensive fighter aircraft and an extensive range of simulated Surface to Air threats.

“Red Flag also provides invaluable training for our logistics, support and maintenance personnel as they are able to practice deploying to another country and working together with other Air Forces,” Air Commodore Hupfeld said.

Strategic air lift and logistic support will be provided by C-130H and C-130J Hercules from 37 Squadron at RAAF Richmond.

The exercise is conducted on the 15,000-square-mile Nevada Test and Training Range, north of Las Vegas. Red Flag is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and Nellis, through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.


Source: Australian Department of Defence

 

[xdrive]

Interesting. I love joint country exercises.

 

[gambit]

Interesting. I love joint country exercises.

They are great. I have been in many, from CONUS to Europe to Asia. Joint exercises are wonderful to meet new people who are in the same or similar field as you are. There are always some language barriers but as long as you share the same interests, which in this case is aviation, conversations will always flow. They are also great for exchanging unit patches. There are always people who will leave for one of these events with fistfuls of patches to trade. The patches are usually authorized versions, but sometimes the host unit will create a sort of 'commemorative' version that will not be repeated. I damn near cried when I found out my ex-wife in a hissy fit threw my collection out when I was in Korea.

 

[xdrive]

They are great. I have been in many, from CONUS to Europe to Asia. Joint exercises are wonderful to meet new people who are in the same or similar field as you are. There are always some language barriers but as long as you share the same interests, which in this case is aviation, conversations will always flow. They are also great for exchanging unit patches. There are always people who will leave for one of these events with fistfuls of patches to trade. The patches are usually authorized versions, but sometimes the host unit will create a sort of 'commemorative' version that will not be repeated. I damn near cried when I found out my ex-wife in a hissy fit threw my collection out when I was in Korea.

Have you ever done Exercise Talisman Saber in Australia?

 

[gambit]

Have you ever done Exercise Talisman Saber in Australia?

Never made it to Australia. May be someday I will play tourist down there. I cannot dive any more because of my ears but I can snorkel just fine.

 

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Red Flag 10-03 exercise kicks off
UNITED STATES - 22 FEBRUARY 2010

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Southern Nevada residents may notice increased military aircraft activity as the Air Force hosts Red Flag exercises Feb. 22 to March 5.

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 Nevada Test and Training Range, north of Las Vegas. Red Flag is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and Nellis, through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.

More than 70 aircraft will depart Nellis twice a day, in the early afternoon and again around 7 p.m. Aircraft may remain in the air for up to four hours. The flying times are scheduled to accommodate the other flying missions at Nellis and provide Red Flag participants with valuable night-time training.

In addition to Nellis aircraft, the exercise will feature participating aircraft from New Mexico, Texas, South Carolina, Washington, Arizona, California, Oklahoma, New York, Georgia, Nebraska, United Kingdom, Australia and Washington D.C and will include F-22A, B1B, F-18, GR-9, EA-6B, EC-130, F-16CJ, E-3, E-8, RC-135 and KC-135. In addition to U.S. aircraft, the Royal Australian Air Force will be participating with F-18 Hornets and the U.K.'s Royal Air Force will be participating with GR-9 Harriers.

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev.-- A three-ship of F-16 Fighting Falcons from the 64th Aggressor Squadron at Nellis head to the fight after refueling Feb. 4 during Red Flag 10-2. 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 Nevada Test and Training Range, north of Las Vegas.

 

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Australian airmen sharpen skills at Red Flag
24 FEBRUARY 2010

NELLIS U.S. AIR FORCE BASE, Nev -- Red Flag is an advanced aerial combat exercise where aircrews from the U.S. and allied nations train in realistic aerial war scenarios over the Nevada Test and Training Range in southern Nevada. One of the nations, along with the U.S. and United Kingdom, participating in Red Flag 10-3 is Australia.

The majority of the Royal Australian air force maintainers, pilots and jets arrived Feb. 19 and they have been working non-stop since they set foot on the base situated in the Mojave Desert not far from Las Vegas.

Cpl. David Wilkins, a trade supervisor with the 77th Squadron at Williamtown deployed to Nellis, said he hasn't had much time to do anything else but get their F/A-18 Hornets ready to fly in the exercise, but he looks forward to working around the other nations and aircraft.

All the work at Red Flag has given these Australian airmen a taste of what a deployed environment would be like since many of them have not been deployed or participated in an exercise of this nature. Cpl. Mick Remand, 77th Squadron, said he hasn't deployed but has been a part of other Australian exercises and says this is a great opportunity to learn and work in a fast paced environment. He also said he doesn't mind seeing all the other jets and enjoys the noise.

Although it is a new environment, they still put their focus on keeping their heads in the game by practicing the same standards they keep at RAAF Base Williamtown, their home station about 19 miles north of Newcastle, Australia. "We try to do the same thing as back home or you'll make mistakes otherwise," Corporal Wilkins said .

While deployed to Red Flag these maintainers from "down under" will sharpen their skills while working in a coalition environment.


NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Air Craftsman Benjamin Cockroft, from the 77th Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, looks through the aircraft forms before his team mounts a laser-guided training round on an F/A-18 Hornet Feb. 23, the second day of Red Flag 10-3. The airmen from the 77th Squadron are stationed at RAAF Base Williamtown, near Newcastle, Australia.



NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Members of the 77th Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, move laser-guided training munitions to be loaded onto F/A-18 Hornets during Red Flag 10-3 Feb. 23. The 77th Squadron is deployed from RAAF Base Williamtown near Newcastle, Australia.



NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- An airman from the 77th Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, walks the line visually inspecting the RAAF's F/A-18 Hornets during Red Flag 10-3 Feb. 23. The 77th Squadron is deployed to Nellis from RAAF Base Williamtown, Australia.



NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Flight Lieutenant Mathew Deveson, 77th Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, prepares to fly his F/A-18 Hornet during Red Flag 10-3 Feb. 23. The members of the 77th Squadron are deployed to Nellis from RAAF Base Williamtown near Newcastle, Australia.



NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Members of the 77th Squadron, Royal Australian Air Force, load a laser-guided training round onto a F/A-18 Hornet during Red Flag 10-3 Feb. 23. These RAAF members traveled 22 hours from RAAF Base Williamtown, Australia, to participate in the combined forces exercise.