EXERCISE REPORT // ‘RED FLAG 19-1’
The first ‘Red Flag’ exercise of 2019 brought together high-end platforms from the US and its close allies — taking the gloves off for some serious cutting-edge, near peer threat, training.
WHILE EXERCISES TEND to follow a predictable formula, with the deep insight into the tactics and outcomes of the missions tending to remain behind tightly closed doors, the gathering of aircraft and personnel cannot fail to create a spectacle. Few exercises generate interest like a ‘Red Flag’ at Nellis AFB, Nevada. Although the first of the year ‘19-1’ was limited to US, Australian and British participants, it still attracted some high-end ‘players’.
The first such exercise of the year started on January 26 and concluded on February 15, flown on a day/night basis for the two daily waves of missions, with a dose of uncharacteristically poor weather hampering proceedings on some days.
Led by the 79th Fighter Squadron’s F-16CMs from Shaw AFB, South Carolina, as the core unit, the ‘Blue Forces’ included 388th FW F-35As, VFA-136 ‘Knighthawks’ F/A-18E Super Hornets and Typhoon FGR4s of No 6 Squadron, Royal Air Force.
Interestingly, there was emphasis placed on bringing on younger US Air F…
