Staff Sgt.Tessa Burkett, a crew chief with the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, talks to the pilot of a Mountain Home F-15E Strike Eagle that has landed at Nellis AFB, Nev., Feb. 20 for Red Flag 09-3. Red Flag is a multinational exercise providing a realistic environment to practice combat scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman First Class Brett C. Clashman)
An F-15E Strike Eagle from the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, taxis in after arriving at Nellis AFB, Nev., Feb 20 for Red Flag 09-3. Red Flag is a multinational exercise providing a realistic environment to practice combat scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman First Class Brett C. Clashman)
Air Force F-15E Strike Eagles from the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, arrive at Nellis AFB, Nev., Feb 20 for Red Flag 09-3. Red Flag is a multinational exercise providing a realistic environment to practice combat scenarios. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman First Class Brett C. Clashman)
2/25/2009 - NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. (AFNS) -- Southern Nevada residents may have notice increased military aircraft activity as the latest Red Flag exercise began Feb. 23.
Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is conducted on the 15,000-square-mile Nevada Test and Training Range, north of Las Vegas. Red Flag is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by officials at the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and at Nellis, through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.
Red Flag 09-3 will be different from previous exercises, adding an extra week to the traditional two-week exercise.
"The extra week will test the feasibility and effectiveness of adding focused mission training," said Maj. Keith Lowman, the Red Flag 09-3 team chief. "Our goal is to provide tailored training during the third week by focusing on close-air support and combat search and rescue for aircrews who frequently support ground forces, sometimes dropping weapons within a few hundred feet of friendly troops. The additional training will better prepare our Airmen for combat operations in Afghanistan, Iraq and other locations around the world."
An Army Patriot missile unit from Ft. Bragg, N.C. , has established a base at the Alamo airfield, about 90 miles north of Nellis AFB. Radar, missile and communications equipment has been set up in Delmar Valley, west of Caliente, Nev. Army participants are focusing on establishing communications with airborne units and identifying friendly and enemy aircraft.
Flying for Red Flag 09-3 began Feb. 23 and will end March 13. About 80 aircraft will depart Nellis twice a day. Flying times are scheduled to accommodate the other flying missions at Nellis and provide Red Flag participants with valuable night-time training.
In addition to the aircraft from Nellis AFB and nearby Creech AFB, U.S. aircraft will come from Virginia, Idaho, California, Maryland, Washington, Arizona, Oklahoma, Utah, Georgia, Nebraska, Ohio, Florida and Germany. Aircraft types will include F-22 Raptors, F-15 Eagles, F-16 Fighting Falcons, A-10 Thunderbolt IIs, F/EF-18 Hornets, EA-6B Prowlers, HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopters, KC-135 Stratotankers and a KC-10 Extender.
In addition to U.S. aircraft, the United Kingdom will be flying F-3 Tornados, and the Royal Australian Air Force will be flying F-111s. Both allied countries will also fly C-130 cargo aircraft.
