The Royal Australian Air Force has deployed a contingent of approximately 370 personnel to Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada for Exercise Red Flag 19-1, taking place from 22 January to 15 February 2019.

Up to 6 F/A-18A Hornet aircraft from Number 77 Squadron, an E-7A Wedgetail from Number 2 Squadron, an AP-3C (Electronic Warfare) Orion from Number 10 Squadron have been deployed on the complex, multi-nation exercise. Personnel will also be operating a Task Group Headquarters; augmenting the Combined Air Operations Centre, Cyber capabilities; and establish a Control and Reporting Centre.

Established in 1975 as an internal exercise by the United States Air Force, Exercise Red Flag centres on the world’s most complex reconstruction of a modern battlespace and is recognised as one of the world’s premier air combat exercises. Red Flag 19-1 also involves participants from the United States Navy as well as the Royal Air Force.

Training alongside allied nations is critical to the success of Air Force units on real world operations; helping develop further familiarity with foreign terminology, methods and platforms.