RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Collin Blackburn, an aerospace propulsion journeyman assigned to the 494th Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, secures an engine into place on an F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighter aircraft June 8, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. RF-A is a Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and allied forces, providing joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Elias Zani/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Collin Blackburn, an aerospace propulsion journeyman assigned to the 494th Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, secures an engine into place on an F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighter aircraft June 8, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. RF-A is a Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and allied forces, providing joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Elias Zani/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Christopher Strader, an aerospace propulsion journeyman assigned to the 494th Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, removes an engine guide cart from behind an F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighter aircraft so his team can better maneuver to secure an engine June 8, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. RF-A provides an opportunity for Airmen to work together alongside partner-nation forces to solve issues and keep jets operational while serving on a simulated deployment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Elias Zani/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Collin Blackburn, an aerospace propulsion journeyman assigned to the 494th Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, uses a torque wrench to secure an engine into place on an F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighter aircraft June 8, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Units from across the Department of Defense and partner nations send units to Eielson for RF-A to train for contingency operations in a controlled environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Elias Zani/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Kevin Brown and Airman 1st Class Collin Blackburn, both aerospace propulsion technicians assigned to the 494th Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, guide an engine into place on an F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighter aircraft June 8, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. During RF-A, maintenance units work diligently to keep jets operational despite a high-operations tempo created by the simulated deployed environment, preparing U.S. and partner-nation forces for contingency operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Capt. Elias Zani/Released)

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Red Flag-Alaska

U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Zachary Suttles, a crew chief assigned to the 494th Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, performs maintenance on an F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighter aircraft June 8, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. RF-A is a Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and allied forces, providing joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Isaac Johnson)

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Red Flag-Alaska

U.S. Air Force Staff Sgt. Jarvis Williams, a crew chief assigned to the 494th Aircraft Maintenance Unit out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, works to remove an airframe mounted accessory drive from an F-15E Strike Eagle dual-role fighter aircraft June 8, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2 at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. Crew chiefs assigned to RF-A must learn to operate quickly in a high-operations tempo simulated combat environment without compromising safety. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman Isaac Johnson)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather, highly maneuverable, dual-role fighter assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, gains speed as it lifts off from the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, runway June 6, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2. RF-A missions are conducted over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, more than 67,000 square miles of airspace that includes one conventional bombing range and two tactical bombing ranges containing 510 different types of targets and 45 threat simulators, providing units like the Liberty Wing a realistic training environment in the largest instrumented air, ground and electronic combat training range in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather, highly maneuverable, dual-role fighter assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, painted in the unit's flagship design, begins to lift off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, runway June 6, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2. RF-A is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces like the Liberty Wing, enabling joint and international units to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment inside the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the largest instrumented air, ground and electronic combat training range in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather, highly maneuverable, dual-role fighter assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, takes off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 6, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2. RF-A missions are conducted over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which provides more than 67,000 square miles of airspace that includes one conventional bombing range and two tactical bombing ranges containing 510 different types of targets and 45 threat simulators, providing units like the Liberty Wing a realistic training environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather, highly maneuverable, dual-role fighter assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, takes off from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 6, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2. The Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, where RF-A simulated aerial combat missions are conducted, provides a realistic training environment and allows commanders to train for full spectrum engagements, ranging from individual skills to complex, large-scale joint engagements. Conducting RED FLAG training in Alaska signifies the United States' continued commitment to the Indio-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle pilot and weapon systems officer assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, look over as they taxi down the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, flight line in their all-weather, highly maneuverable, dual-role fighter June 6, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2. RF-A is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises that provides unique opportunities to integrate various forces like the Liberty Wing into joint, coalition and multilateral training from simulated forward operating bases. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather, highly maneuverable, dual-role fighter assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, taxis down the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, flight line past a row of parked Alaska Air National Guard KC-135 Stratotanker refueling aircraft assigned to the 168th Air Refueling Squadron, June 6, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2. RF-A is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces like the Liberty Wing, enabling joint and international units to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment inside the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the largest instrumented air, ground and electronic combat training range in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather, highly maneuverable, dual-role fighter assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, taxis down the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, flight line June 6, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2. RF-A missions are conducted over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which provides more than 67,000 square miles of airspace that includes one conventional bombing range and two tactical bombing ranges containing 510 different types of targets and 45 threat simulators, providing units like the Liberty Wing a realistic training environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

A row of U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather, highly maneuverable, dual-role fighter aircraft assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, wait for their turn to launch for an afternoon sortie out of Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 6, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2. RF-A is a series of Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercises for U.S. and partner nation forces like the Liberty Wing, enabling joint and international units to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment inside the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the largest instrumented air, ground and electronic combat training range in the world. (U.S. Air Force photo illustration by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik/Released)

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RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle all-weather, highly maneuverable, dual-role fighter assigned to the 494th Fighter Squadron out of Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, taxis down the Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, flight line as an Airman transports a dummy munition in the background, June 6, 2016, during RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2. RF-A enables joint and international units like the Liberty Wing to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment, which allows them to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures while improving interoperability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Master Sgt. Karen J. Tomasik/Released)

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Liberty Wing expertly trains at RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

Published June 10, 2016
By Capt. Elias Zani
354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- RED FLAG-Alaska (RF-A) 16-2 is a Pacific Air Forces commander-directed field training exercise for U.S. and allied forces, providing joint offensive counter-air, interdiction, close air support, and large force employment training in a simulated combat environment. Units from across the Department of Defense and partner nations send units to Eielson Air Force Base for RF-A to train for contingency operations in a controlled environment.

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

Red Flag-Alaska

Red Flag-Alaska

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2

RED FLAG-Alaska 16-2