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RAAF sending eight aircraft, 370 personnel to Red Flag

written by australianaviation.com.au | January 29, 2019

A file image of RAAF F/A-18A classic Hornets at Red Flag 16-1 at Nellis AFB in January 2016. (Defence)
A file image of RAAF F/A-18A classic Hornets at Red Flag 16-1 at Nellis AFB in January 2016. (Defence)

The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has arrived at Nellis Air Force Base (AFB) in the United States with eight aircraft and 370 personnel for the Red Flag joint military training exercise.

Red Flag 19-1 is scheduled to occur between January 26 and February 15, with the RAAF one of several participants alongside the United States Air Force (USAF) and the United Kingdom Royal Air Force (RAF).

The eight RAAF aircraft for three-week exercise over the vast Nellis test and training range of southern Nevada comprise six F/A-18A classic Hornets of 77SQN, an E-7A Wedgetail of 2SQN, and an AP-3C Orion of 10SQN.

The personnel will not only operate and maintain the aircraft, but also include a contingent who will operate an Australian Task Group Headquarters and augment the exercise Combined Air Operations Centre.

“Royal Australian Air Force will train with the United States Air Force (USAF), United States Navy and the Royal Air Force in a complex reconstruction of a modern battlespace,” Air Commander Australia (ACAUST) AVM Steve ‘Zed’ Roberton said in a statement on January 28.

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“Not only are we learning from our partners and how we can best operate with each other, we are continuing our strong relationships that will enhance and strengthen our coalition into the future.”

A file image of a RAAF AP-3C Orion (left) and E-7A Wedgetail on the ramp at Nellis AFB at RF 16-1 in 2016 (Defence)
A file image of a RAAF AP-3C Orion (left) and E-7A Wedgetail on the ramp at Nellis AFB at RF 16-1 in 2016 (Defence)

The exercise is held at least four times a year, and is considered the most realistic and intense air combat exercise in the world. At least one of the exercises each year is for US-only participants, another is reserved for five-eyes partners such as Australia, the UK and Canada, and one or two Red Flags each year include other allies and non-aligned participants.

The exercise is scheduled to run from January 26 to February 15, and is conducted by the USAF’s 414th Combat Training Squadron.

Apart from the participating “Blue force” units, it also includes dedicated “Red air” units from the US services which fly F-16 and F-5 fighters, and civilian contractors which operate L-39, A-4 and other aircraft, using dissimilar adversary-like tactics. USAF personnel and civilian contractors also run Red (adversary) and White (umpire) force scenarios for the exercise.

The RAF has deployed Eurofighter Typhoon fighters, and E-3D Sentry AEW.1, an RC-135 Rivet Joint, and a Bombardier/Raytheon Sentinel R.1.

An RAF Eurofighter Typhoon at Nellis AFB. (Defence)
An RAF Eurofighter Typhoon at Nellis AFB. (Defence)
An RAF Sentinel R.1 surveillance aircraft takes off from Nellis AFB at RF 17-1. (Defence)
An RAF Sentinel R.1 surveillance aircraft takes off from Nellis AFB at RF 17-1. (Defence)

In a January 18 UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) statement, the RAF’s Officer Commanding 51Sqn, Wg Cdr Phil McConnel said: “The unique capability which 51 Squadron offers has seen us very busy of late on operations.

“Red Flag affords us the ability not only to participate in the best air combat exercise in the world but also to do so with other complimentary RAF ISTAR platforms in an exercise scenario representative of the issues NATO and Europe face today. It’s a great opportunity which we are very much looking forward to.”

A USAF ‘Agressor’ F-16C from the Nellis-based 64th Fighter Squadron over the Nellis Test & Training Range (NTTR). (USAF)
A USAF ‘Agressor’ F-16C from the Nellis-based 64th Fighter Squadron over the Nellis Test & Training Range (NTTR). (USAF)
A USAF F-22 refuels from a KC-135 over the vast Nellis Test & Training Range (NTTR). (USAF)
A USAF F-22 refuels from a KC-135 over the vast Nellis Test & Training Range (NTTR). (USAF)

A USAF fact sheet says: “Red Flag was established in 1975 as the brainchild of Col Richard “Moody” Suter and one of the initiatives directed by General Robert J. Dixon, then commander of Tactical Air Command, to better prepare our forces for combat.

“Lessons from Vietnam showed that if a pilot survived his first 10 combat missions, his probability of survival for remaining missions increased substantially. Red Flag was designed to expose each ‘Blue 4’ pilot to his first 10 ‘combat missions’ here at Nellis, allowing him to be more confident and effective in actual combat.

“This same principle continues to guide Red Flag today, with the goal of preparing Air Force, Joint, and Coalition pilots, aircrew and operators to fight against a peer-level adversary in any combat environment.”

With the drawdown of classic Hornet operations expected to commence this year and RAAF classic and Super Hornet/Growler rotations to the exercise usually conducted on alternate years, Red Flag 19-1 will likely be the final Red Flag for the RAAF F/A-18A/B Hornet.


VIDEO: A look at the RAAF’s participation at Exercise Red Flag 16 from its YouTube channel.</em

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Comments (5)

  • TwinTiger

    says:

    Maybe the RAAF can just fly the Hornets onto Canada thereafter and leave them there to avoid having to transport them back to Australia.

  • Gary

    says:

    What is the latest on the EA18 lost at last years Flag?

  • Mick C

    says:

    Gary
    Written off, no replacement at this stage. I don’t know if 12 included Attrition spares or not.

  • Andy

    says:

    The aircraft was written off as beyond economic repair as far as I am aware…..We are certainly down to eleven as far as anything that can be found regarding number status.

  • Gary

    says:

    Mick / Andy,
    Thanks. Poor words on my part, I am aware that it has been Written Off; however, I was wondering on possibility of a replacement or as you have said Mick, attrition covers some form of attrition.

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