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NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE: F-35A Lightning II pilots with the 421st Fighter Squadron return after flying a sortie during Red Flag 20-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Feb. 3, 2020. Red Flag is the Air Force\u2019s premiere large scale combat exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by R. NIal Bradshaw)[\/caption]Airmen from the 388th Fighter Wing, alongside reservists from the 419th Fighter Wing, are currently deployed for combat training with the F-35A Lightning II during exercise Red Flag 20-1.<\/p>\n
They are also performing the \u201ccore wing\u201d function at what is known as the Air Force\u2019s premier large force exercise.<\/p>\n
From Jan. 27-Feb. 15 they, alongside air and ground units from across the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force, are learning how to fight and win together in a realistic combat environment. As the core wing, the 388th FW is the hub for integration, support and resources for the deployed force.<\/p>\n
\u201cRed Flag gives us \u2014 especially our young pilots and maintainers, many of whom have never been down range \u2014 the opportunity to experience a joint, deployed environment,\u201d said Col. Steven Behmer, 388th Fighter Wing commander. \u201cWe don\u2019t simply learn how to execute the mission, we also get to know each other better, how we work and succeed together.\u201d<\/p>\n
The 388th Fighter Wing isn\u2019t the only unit at Red Flag with F-35s. The British Royal Air Force 617 Squadron from RAF Marham brought F-35Bs to the Red Flag exercise.<\/p>\n
This will further the integration the 421st Fighter Squadron began during last year\u2019s European Theater Support Package, where they began putting in place processes for \u201ccross-servicing\u201d maintenance activities, as well as operational integration with European F-35 partner nations.<\/p>\n
Organizers say integration on the ground and in the air is key to success at Red Flag, as it is in war.<\/p>\n
During the exercise, a friendly \u201cblue force\u201d fights against an enemy \u201cred force\u201d in what is known as the Air Force\u2019s premier large-force combat-training experience. Red Flag may be the only place in the world where it\u2019s OK if the \u201cbad guys\u201d win the day once in a while.<\/p>\n
\u201cOur aggressors here are very good, they know the capabilities and shortcomings of the good guys and they work to exploit those,\u201d said Col. William Reese, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander. \u201cWe want them to fail here, so they learn and do better in the future, which may be in real-world combat.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Nevada Test and Training Range hosts both integrated air defenses with early warning systems and advanced surface-to-air threats. Couple those with highly trained aggressor pilots flying aircraft that simulate real-world enemy aircraft, and participants are presented with challenging missions in a variety of different scenarios.<\/p>\n
Red Flag was created 40 years ago to give young pilots a realistic combat experience before flying against a real enemy threat. The threats have evolved since Vietnam, but Red Flag has evolved with them.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019re not just doing fighter integrations here. We\u2019re doing cyber integration, we\u2019re doing space and intelligence operations,\u201d Reese said. \u201cWe have good guys and bad guys on each side. When we integrate, we win. When we operate as small, separate teams, we lose.\u201d<\/p>\n
This is the second time the 388th Fighter Wing has served as the core wing at Red Flag.<\/p>\n
The active duty 388th FW and Air Force Reserve 419th FW are the Air Force\u2019s first combat-capable F-35A units. They fly and maintain the jet in a Total Force partnership, which capitalizes on the strength of both components.<\/p>\n