The face-off

An A-10 Thunderbolt II taxis the runway towards two F-16C Fighting Falcons as aircraft recover from a morning mission during RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2 June 11, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. RF-A, a two -week-long exercise, focuses on aerial combat training for U.S. and allied forces and is conducted within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, a 67,000 square-mile training range. The A-10 Thunderbolt II is assigned to the 25 Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2

Two F-16C Fighting Falcons recover from a mission during RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2 June 11, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. RF-A allows participating units to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures as well as improve interoperability. The F-16s are assigned to the 36th Fighter Squadron, Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, and the 18th Aggressor Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2

A KC-135R Stratotanker taxis past German air force Eurofighter Typhoons and Japanese Self Defense Force F-15J Eagles prior to take-off during RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2 June 13, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The support of the Stratotanker provides U.S. and coalition forces aircraft with the fuel it needs to execute the mission. The Stratotanker is assigned to the 168th Air Refueling Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III

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JASDF crew chiefs in action

A Japanese Self Defense Force crew chief communicates to the pilot in a F-15J Eagle prior to take-off during RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2 June 11, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. The work completed by crew chiefs provide mission-capable aircraft for pilots so they can provide air support, serving as a vital role in the overall RF-A mission. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2

A Polish air force F-16C Fighting Falcon taxis while an 18th Aggressor Squadron F-16 recovers from a morning mission during RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2 June 13, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. RF-A is a joint/coalition, tactical air combat employment exercise which corresponds to the operational capability of participating units. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2

U.S. Air Force and Polish air force F-16C Fighting Falcons awaits the signal to launch during RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2 June 11, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. This is the first time the PLAF has participated in RF-A. RF-A provides aircrews realistic combat sorties increasing their chances of survival in real-world combat. The U.S. Air Force F-16s are assigned to the 77th Fighter Squadron, Shaw Air Force Base, S.C. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2

Two German air force Eurofighter Typhoons taxi the runway as a KC-135R Stratotanker launches from the runway during RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2 June 11, 2012, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. This is the first time the Typhoon has participated in RF-A. The KC-135R Stratotanker is assigned to the 22nd Air Refueling Wing, McConnell Air Force Base, Kan. (U.S. Air Force photo/Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III)

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2nd largest RED FLAG-Alaska in full swing

Published June 15, 2012
By Staff Sgt. Miguel Lara III
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- U.S. and coalition forces are wrapping up the first week of the 2nd largest RED FLAG-Alaska to date.

Participants from Poland, Germany, Japan and U.S. military bases have endured a week of tactical air combat exercises designed to replicate the stresses that warfighters must face during their first 10 combat sorties. This also marks the first time the Polish air force and German air force Eurofighter Typhoon has participated in RF-A.

RF-A , a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, Joint National Training Capability accredited exercise, allows participating units to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures as well as improve interoperability.

More than 100 aircraft and 2,500 personnel at Joint Base Elmendor-Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base are participating in RF-A 12-2.

The face-off

RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2

JASDF crew chiefs in action

RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 12-2