Although the US leads the field when it comes to Red Air aggressor units, a host of contractors and other air forces have seen the benefit of this training in what is a constantly evolving picture.
EXERCISE ‘RED FLAG’ at Nellis AFB, Nevada, is classed as one of the premier air combat training events on the planet. The twice-daily VULs (Vulnerability Periods) see waves of aggressors launching to a marshaling point, ready to replicate enemy tactics and meddle with the Blue Force’s plans as they go head-to-head in a realistic simulation of the opening days of a high-end conflict.
The same scenario applies to the colocated USAF Weapons School. Here, the aggressors work against the students on a daily basis, helping them to learn in one of the most inhospitable aerial environments and push them to the limit.
As the USAF lost it’s F-15 aggressor squadron in 2014 it faced a number of challenges. Not least the fact that the need for this specialist red air training hadn’t diminished. Indeed, with the F-35 coming online, the USAF arguably needed far more support to vex these new fighters during operational evaluation and the spin-up of the Lightning II Weapons School syllabus.
Despite the emphasis that is put u…
