Eight F/A-18A/B classic Hornets from the RAAF’s 75SQN have deployed to Cold Lake AFB in Alberta, Canada to participate in Exercise Maple Flag.
The exercise, from June 11 to 22 is a complex international training event which this year will involve the air forces of Canada, Belgium, Brazil, France, Norway, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the US, and Australia.
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“Exercise Maple Flag offers our people realistic training within a complex operating environment that is both challenging and constantly evolving,” detachment commander and commanding officer 75SQN, WGCDR Michael Grant said in a statement.
“There are immense benefits to training as we mean to fight, and so often we fight as part of a combined or coalition force which means training opportunities like this are invaluable to our operational readiness.”
Training scenarios at Maple Flag include command and control, air-to-air and air-to-surface combat, air-to-air refuelling, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, tactical airlift, tactical aviation, and close air support.
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75SQN will continue to operate its classic Hornets until 2022 when it will be the last 81WG squadron to transition to the F-35A Lightning II.
“Exercise Maple Flag offers our people realistic training within a complex operating environment that is both challenging and constantly evolving,” … not to mention an opportunity to showcase to the Canadians how good our second-hand F/A-18s would be for them to buy from us!
James
says:
Interesting to see Qatar and Saudi cooperating in an exercise together considering the blockade is still enforced…
Peter H
says:
I wonder when the RAAF will start paying off the Hornet. I don’t imagine 3 squadron will be flying them for much longer.
AlanH
says:“Exercise Maple Flag offers our people realistic training within a complex operating environment that is both challenging and constantly evolving,” … not to mention an opportunity to showcase to the Canadians how good our second-hand F/A-18s would be for them to buy from us!
James
says:Interesting to see Qatar and Saudi cooperating in an exercise together considering the blockade is still enforced…
Peter H
says:I wonder when the RAAF will start paying off the Hornet. I don’t imagine 3 squadron will be flying them for much longer.
Grant M
says:3 SQN have already given their aircraft back to 81WG (I think 77 SQN got most of them). They’re over in the USA ramping up the F-35s.
TwinTiger
says:@AlanH
The RAAF still has to convert them to LHD before the RCAF will take possession.