44th FS heads to Nellis for Red Flag

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Airmen and weapons systems from around the world, to include 12 F-15 Eagles and more than 160 personnel from Kadena's 44th Fighter Squadron, will converge on Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., from Jan. 18 to Feb. 5 to participate in Red Flag, the world's preeminent aerial combat training exercise.

"Red Flag is considered the premier aerial training event worldwide," said Lt. Col. Brian Farrar, 44th Fighter Squadron commander. "So the practice we'll get there is a close as we can possibly get to combat without actually going into combat."

The large force employment for Red Flag will involve numerous aircraft training together in mountainous terrain and unfamiliar airspace. Other American assets participating in the exercise include F-22 Raptors from Holloman AFB, N.M., and Elmendorf AFB, Alaska, along with F-15s from the 48th Fighter Wing stationed at Royal Air Force Station Lakenheath, England, and F-16 Falcons and F-18 Hornets from Nellis AFB, amongst others. The British Royal Air Force is sending Sea Harriers from RAF Cottesmore.

According to the colonel, Red Flag affords the 44th FS the opportunity to see and measure themselves against state-of-the-art threats, everything from aerial tactics to electronic attacks.

"Modern air warfare is definitely an electronic event," said Colonel Farrar.

"The aggressor squadrons will do a very good job of replicating threats that we would normally see in a combat environment, including their maneuvers and tactics," said Capt. Andrew Stolee, 44th FS project officer for Red Flag, adding, "This exercise is probably one of the best scenarios we will be able to see in terms of what the adversaries could attack us with at any time."

Other valuable experience offered at Red Flag includes mission planning during academic sessions on the ground.

This gathering of information will benefit all those participating in the exercise, including the British air forces, when we have to go to war together as a joint force or a multi-national force, said Colonel Farrar.

According to Captain Stolee, Red Flag encourages interaction amongst all the pilots so that they might better refine what capabilities each fighter, whether fourth or fifth generation, can bring to the fight.

"It's always about maximizing our capabilities," said Captain Stolee. "There is always a way to do it a little bit better and we're still figuring out that perfect answer."