Home Air Australian, UK fighters arrive in the US for Red Flag maneuvers

Australian, UK fighters arrive in the US for Red Flag maneuvers

Typhoons in Nevada
RAF Typhoon fighter aircraft at Nellis AFB, Nevada, ahead of the Red Flag exercise. Photo: Royal Air Force

Fighter jets from Australia and the United Kingdom have arrived in Nevada, United States, where they will join their US counterparts for two weeks of training out of Nellis Air Force Base.

A total of 100 aircraft, including jets and personnel from US Air Force, Navy, Marines, Space Force, Air National Guard, and US Air Force Reserves will be flying daily at the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Led by the 414th Combat Training Squadron, Red Flag 22-1 will run from January 24 to February 11.

In all, some 2,900 participants from the three countries will take part in the maneuver.

The deploying RAF detachment of 300 personnel is formed from Typhoons from RAF Lossiemouth based 1 (Fighter) Squadron and RAF Coningsby based 41 Test and Evaluation Squadron and supported by Voyagers from 10 Squadron and 101 Squadron based at RAF Brize Norton, together with ground support personnel from across the RAF.

During the exercise the three air forces will face simulated ground based air defense systems, aggressor aircraft that will simulate a peer adversary, and cyber and space-based threats as combat missions are planned conducted and debriefed.

The objective of the exercise for participants is to develop capabilities in a high threat and contested environment against a near peer adversary.

Group Captain Barrett, the Royal Air Force detachment commander for the exercise, has been a regular fixture on the RAF exercise program since the late 1970s.

“I’m pleased that after many months of preparation exercise Red Flag is now getting under way. The exercise will provide unparalleled training for our air and space warfighters and will help prepare them for operations against any adversary who may choose to confront us in the air, space and cyber domains. The opportunity to reaffirm our close ties with United States Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force colleagues is also very welcome.”