Karo-Aviation visit Nellis airbase for Red Flag 2015-2
Article and pictures by Ronald de Roij

In addition to the variety of USAF squadrons, the air combat exercise held March 2 to 13, 2015 out of Nellis AFB, Las Vegas, Nevada featured international participation by a NATO E-3, F-16s from the Royal Norwegian Air Force, Mirage 2000s from the United Arab Emirates and F-16CMs from Aviano Air Base, Italy.
Beyond what was seen, multiple off site participants were involved virtually in the exercise.

Most virtual participants were housed in simulators out of Kirtland AFB, New Mexico and included a complete JSTARs crew sending virtual ground target information that aircrews responded too.

This combination of Red Flag and Virtual Flag was a first, and is described as the USAFs LVC (Live-Virtual-Constructive) training. The Live and Virtual not only reduces the cost of the exercise it increases the participation, scope and complexity.

Red Flag

Red Flag, a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies, is coordinated at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., and conducted on the vast bombing and gunnery ranges of the Nevada Test and Training Range. It is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the United States Air Force Warfare Center and Nellis and executed through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.

It was established in 1975 as one of the initiatives directed by General Robert J. Dixon, then commander of Tactical Air Command, to better prepare our forces for combat after the lessons learned in Vietnam.

Aircraft and personnel deploy to Nellis for Red Flag under the Air Expeditionary Force concept and make up the exercise's "Blue" forces. By working together, these Blue forces are able to utilize the diverse capabilities of their aircraft to execute specific missions, such as air interdiction, combat search and rescue, close air support, dynamic targeting and defensive counter air. These forces use various tactics to attack NTTR targets such as mock airfields, vehicle convoys, tanks, parked aircraft, bunkered defensive positions and missile sites. These targets are defended by a variety of simulated "Red" force ground and air threats to give participant aircrews the most realistic combat training possible.

The Red force threats are aligned under the 57th Adversary Tactics Group, which controls the squadrons of USAF Aggressors, including fighter, space, information operations and air defense units. The Aggressors are specially trained to replicate the tactics and techniques of potential adversaries and provide a scalable threat presentation to Blue forces which aids in achieving the desired learning outcomes for each mission.

Each Red Flag has its own flavour, and in this case it was of interest to note that no F-22s were involved, and three US Army Patriot batteries were deployed on the range as part of the Blue Force, with more units deployed “virtually.”

Red Air continues to evolve, with Red Flag 2015-1 featuring F-15E Strike Eagles on Red Air strike missions, and 2015-2 featuring T-38s flying Red Air missions, as well as select missions flown by the B1-B and EA-6B on Red Air. It is anticipated that a Red Air will continue to be supplemented with various active units moving forward. These units will not be required to learn “Red Air” tactics as such, but will be given familiar mission profiles to complete within the context of representing Red Air. For those who have enjoyed the F-15Cs with their colourful Aggressor paint, this was the final Red Flag that the F-15C is utilized in the Red Air Aggressor role.

The action is certainly not limited to air-to-air and air-to-ground combat units. The 38th Rescue Squadron participated in the missions with the  HH-60G, and HC-130. In what is typically seen as a rescue role to encompass a much broader mission set of Prepare, Locate, Support and Recover.

Tactics continue to evolve, and participants must be calculated and wary about their approach to unfolding situations. A solo F-16C Aggressor was recently “captured” fast and low on the “Blue side” of the range, and it was noted that the aircraft was trying to lure Blue Air into a pursuit to lead them subsequently into a Red Air ambush. Not simply a scripted exercise, innovative, dynamic activity challenges reactions and creates tremendous learning experiences in a safe environment.

Each day hosts a unique scenario, perhaps a response to an international Superpower that seizes a small neighbouring nation, defending an attack, addressing a hostage situation, or localized regional conflict initiated by a rogue nation. In any case, the exercises represent the reality of the world that confronts us today.

United Arab Emirates

The United Arab Emirates Air Force participated with four single-seat Mirage 2000-9EADs and a pair of two-seat Mirage 2000-9s from Al Dhafra Air Base. The United Arab Emirates Air Force has 36 multirole Mirage 2000 fighters that have been in service since 1986, 30 of which have been extensively refurbished and then upgraded to the same standard as the newer fleet of 32 Mirage 2000-9s delivered starting in 2003 by France's Dassault Aviation.

The United Arab Emirates Air Force bought the Mirage 2000-9, as it was offered with a variant of the Storm Shadow cruise missile, a more advanced weapon than the U.S. allowed it at the time.

At the core of the Mirage 2000-9's navigation and attack system is a Thales- and Dassault-developed modular data-processing unit similar to the one used in the Rafale. This serves as the mission computer, manages the navigation and attack system, controls the cockpit display system and generates symbology for the head-up and head-down displays. As a result, the Mirage 2000-9 is claimed to enjoy a world-beating, highly intuitive man-machine interface.

The Mirage 2000-9s supported the NATO-led efforts over Libya in 2011, at first flying air-superiority sorties, before flying air-to-ground missions.
 

Exercises such as Red Flag bear a close resemblance to the way modern conflicts are addressed, as coalitions involving integration of a broad number of specialized and international assets. In such cases Red Flag training is critical to prepare for such real world deployments.

The objective of Red Flag has been to provide participants with 10 “combat mission” experiences before entering combat, and as such greatly increase the performance and survivability of participants. This approach has demonstrated tremendous success in ensuring US and coalition forces are the best trained, most prepared military forces on the planet.