Exercise Red Flag 19-1 ends

Members of the Royal Australian Air Force have completed three-weeks of intensive training during Exercise Red Flag Nellis 19-1 in Nevada, United States.

CAPTION: A RAAF Number 77 Squadron F/A-18A Hornet taxies for an Exercise Red Flag 19-1 night mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Photo by Corporal David Cotton.

A contingent deloyed with six F/A-18A Hornets, one E-7A Wedgetail, one AP-3C Orion and about 370 personnel.

The aircraft flew day and night missions throughout the exercise, ensuring a wide range of conditions were covered in training scenarios.

In addition, Defence personnel set up a task-group headquarters, a control and reporting centre, and supported the combined air-operations centre and partnered cyber capability.

Elements from medical, security forces and Number 1 Combat Communications Squadron also provided vital support functions to the Australian contingent.

Group Captain Hinton Tayloe, Commander Task Group Headquarters said it was a successful exercise for the three partner nations – Australia, the United States and the United Kingdom.

“The training our personnel received while on Red Flag has been integral to developing their skills to operate in a hostile battlespace,” Group Captain Tayloe said.

“The missions were created to test our aircrew in realistic situations, and challenge them in training scenarios they don’t have access to back home.

“It was also important experience for our ground staff, who have had to move our personnel and aircraft to the other side of the world and maintain the aircraft in conditions we rarely see in Australia.

“Overall, we’ve completed our missions successfully and come away from the exercise confident that we continue to enhance and strengthen our coalition with the United States and United Kingdom.”

Exercise Red Flag was established in 1975, with Australia being a regular participant since 1980.

Exercise Red Flag 19-1 was held from 22 January to 15 February 2019.

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