The first Exercise Red Flag Nellis of 2023 is off to a flying start at the Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, US. The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has deployed up to five Boeing EA-18G Growler electronic warfare aircrafts from No. 6 Squadron and approximately 100 aviators in support of the Exercise to enhance Australia’s air power interoperability with partner nations. The combined force training between the Royal Australian Air Force, the United States Air Force and the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force provided a critical opportunity for partner nations to enhance their skills.
“Exercises like Red Flag Nellis are an opportunity to advance relationships and interoperability with the United States and United Kingdom. Although Australia conducts similar training activities domestically, the scope and scale of Red Flag Nellis cannot be replicated within Australia,” RAAF’s Director General Air – Air Commodore John Haly said.
“Exercise Red Flag Nellis would provide complex and advanced aerial training against simulated targets and realistic threat systems. This training helps ensure RAAF remains ready to deploy aircraft and personnel away from their home base and sustain high-tempo operations,” RAAF’s Exercise Detachment Commander, Wing Commander Steven Thornton said.
Exercise Red Flag (also Red Flag – Nellis) is a two-week advanced aerial combat training exercise held several times a year by the U.S. Air Force. It aims to offer realistic air-combat training for military pilots and other flight crew members from the U.S. and allied countries. Each year, three to six Red Flag exercises are held at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, while up to four more, dubbed Red Flag – Alaska, are held at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Red Flag exercises are conducted under the control of the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center (USAFWC) at Nellis. The training occurs at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada on the Nevada Test and Training Range with more than 12,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land. Exercise Red Flag Nellis will conclude on 10 February 2023.