PHOTO: RAF Tornado in commemorative scheme at Red Flag

(Click on thumbnail for high res image)
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- A Royal Air Force Tornado GR4 returns from a flight during Red Flag 11-3, March 1. Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise takes place north of Las Vegas on the Nevada Test and Training Range--the U.S. Air Force's premier military training area with more than 12,000 square miles of airspace and 2.9 million acres of land. (U.S. Air Force photo by Tech Sgt. Michael R. Holzworth)

RAAF Hercules and crews leave for Red Flag

A Royal Australian Air Force contingent from the RAAF Richmond’s No. 37 Squadron with a pair of C-130H Hercules will participate in Exercise Red Flag 11-3 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada. The RAAF C-130s would fly tactical airlift missions at Red Flag.

Red Flag 11-2 provides Belgian C-130 crews realistic training

Red Flag 11-2, currently being held at Nellis AFB, Nevada, is benefiting Belgian Air Force C-130 crews who are getting the opportunity to carry out missions in a realistic large force exercise scenario involving multiple friendly and aggressor aircraft. The Red Flag staff provides Survival Evasion Resistance and Escape experts to help visiting squadrons meet training goals.

KC-135s make Red Flag possible

Despite the fast movers stealing the limelight, the contribution by the tankers are crucial to the success of Red Flag exercises at Nellis. The current exercise, Red Flag 11-2 saw KC-135s from four units supporting participants from Europe and the Middle East, as well as supporting the exrcise itself.

Tanker shortage caused Red Flag cancellation

A lack of tankers brought about by operational requirements in Iraq and Afghanistan has caused the cancellation of Red Flag 11-1. F-16s from Aviano Air Force Base, Italy were due to provide strike assets for the exercise, but the lack of tankers meant they could not make the trip to Nellis, causing the exercise's cancellation.