Report: Red Flag-Nellis 22-1

Red Flag Nellis 22
USAF B-2A lands at Nellis Air Base at the end of a Red Flag 22-1 mission.

Red Flag 22-1 took place last month at the notorious Nellis AFB. Nearly 100 aircraft and 3,000 personnel arrived there to participate in the first Red Flag exercise of the year. The exercise which is intended to provide realistic training and thus increase the combat effectiveness, run from 24 January to 11 February.

Situated on the north eastern outskirts of Las Vegas Nevada, Nellis AFB is the jewel in USAF’s crown, with its vast training area and easy access. For the aviation enthusiast it can be a "Mecca", with its varied and at times fast-paced levels of activity. In terms of based aircraft and visitors, it offers an unparalleled variety, with well over 150 aircraft of seven different types (A-10C, F-15C/D, F-15E, F-16C/D, F-22A, F-35A, HH-60G) based there. It is probably best known as the home of Red Flag, a large multinational exercise held several times a year.

Virtually every type in the USAFs inventory can be seen at Nellis throughout the year, as well as aircraft from the other US armed services and foreign air arms. At this year’s first exercise participated the following aircrafts:

Red Team
F-16C/D, 64 Aggressor Squadron, Nellis AFB, NV
L-159, Draken International, Nellis AFB, NV
Mirage F-1, Draken International, Nellis AFB, NV

Blue Team 
F-35A, 421st FS, Hill AFB, UT
F-22A, 94th FS, JB Langley-Eustis, VA
F-16CM, 179th FS, MN ANG, Duluth ANGB, MN
Typhoon FGR4, RAF 1(Fighter) Sqn, RAF Lossiemouth, UK
Typhoon FGR4, RAF 41st TES, RAF Coningsby, UK

Interdiction 
B-2A, 393d BS, Whiteman AFB, MO
B-52H, 23d BS, Minot AFB, ND
F-15E, 335th FS, Seymour Johnson AFB, NC
A-10C,75th FS, Moody AFB, GA
MQ-9, 50th ATKS, Shaw AFB, SC

Command & Control 
E-8C,12th ACCS, Robins AFB, GA
E-7A, RAAF 2 Sqn, RAAF Base Williamtown
E-3G, 964th AACS, Tinker AFB OK

Reconnaissance 
RC-135VW, 38th RS, Offutt AFB, NE
RQ-4, 348th RS, Grand Forks AFB, ND

Electronic Warfare 
EC-130H, 43d ECS, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
EA-18G, VAQ 134, NAS Whidbey Island, WA
EA-18G, VAQ 142, NAS Whidbey Island, WA

Refueling 
KC-135R, 6th ARW, MacDill AFB, FL
KC2, RAF 10 Sqn, RAF Brize Norton, UK

CSAR 
HC-130J, 79th RQS, Davis-Monthan AFB, AZ
HH-60W, 41st RQS, Moody AFB, GA

Some Red Flag exercises are U.S. only, while others include coalition forces. The list of foreign countries that have participated in the past includes: Argentinia, Australia, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Denmark, Egypt, France, Germany, Greece, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Korea, Malaysia, NATO, Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Turkey, United Kingdom and Venezuela. The exercises usually last two, sometimes three weeks.

"Red Flag 22-1 is America’s premier air combat exercise focused on readiness and partnering through Air Expeditionary Wing-led strike ops," said Col. Jared Hutchinson, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander. “In its 47th year of execution, participants will build confidence under fire and integrated leadership and warfighter culture that will lead to victorious coalition fights.

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Red Flag Nellis 22

Text and Pics: George Karavantos

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