Report and photos by Danny Bonny
RED FLAG – ALASKA is a multi-national exercise sponsored and co-ordinated by the United States Air Force Pacific Air Forces. It is a realistic, ten-day air combat exercise held up to three times a year. Having originally been named ‘Cope Thunder’, it was transferred to Alaska from Clark Air Base, Philippines, in 1992 after the eruption of the Mount Pinatubo volcano on 15th June 1991, which then forced the cessation of operations there by the United States Air Force. The exercise was later re-designated RED FLAG – ALASKA in 2006.
It is currently held at both Eielson AFB near the City of Fairbanks and Elmendorf AFB in Anchorage. Each exercise which takes place has the goal of enhancing air operations, improving interoperability and with a view to strengthening alliances and partnerships with many different agencies. It also allows U.S. Armed Forces the unique opportunity to integrate with its Indo-Pacific allies and partners. This cooperation provides real-time planning and valuable use of the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, an airspace of over 77,000 square miles, for realistic combat scenarios.
Originally conceived nearly 50 years ago, following the realisation of poor air to air combat losses during the Vietnam War (1965-73). One of the main factors behind these poor results was the lack of realistic “air combat manoeuvring” training for crews. Their training at that time led them to believe that their well versed ‘beyond visual range’ missile systems would make air to air combat obsolete.
An early Air Force analysis named ‘Project Red Baron II’ showed that a USAF pilot’s chances of survival in combat increased considerably after they had completed at least ten combat missions. As a result, Red Flag was created in 1975 to offer both USAF pilots and weapon systems officers the opportunity to fly ten realistically simulated combat missions in a safe training environment with measurable results.
RED FLAG – ALASKA
o Red Flag is a large-scale, two-week aerial combat training exercise
o Providing a realistic and challenging training environment for aircrews and other participants and agencies.
o Takes place up to four times annually
o Exercises are well established in the use of “aggressor” forces, including simulated enemy fighter aircraft, radar systems and surface-to-air missiles
o More recent exercises have also integrated the use of cyber and space-based threats, further enhancing the training package.
The planning, briefing and flying in these training roles all move forward, increasing in intensity and preparing the fighter pilot for war. Therefore, the goal of RED FLAG-ALASKA is to provide each aircrew with these first ten vital missions and therefore increasing their chances of survival in combat environments.
Assigned to the Eleventh Air Force (11 AF), the 354th Fighter Wing (Motto: “Ready to go at fifty below”) hosts both the 353rd Combat Training Squadron and 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron. The 353rd CTS is currently tasked with the management and operation of RED FLAG – ALASKA while the 18th FIS uses F-16C/D aircraft painted in various camouflage schemes as ‘aggressor aircraft’ to emulate modern adversarial threats such as the Su-27 Flanker and Su-35 Flanker-E. Each of these subordinate units have very different roles but together they produce one of the finest training systems and environments in modern military flying.
This year, RED FLAG – ALASKA 25-2 took place from June 12-27th and involved in the region of 1,500 personnel and over 70 aircraft from the USAF, US Navy, the Japanese Air Self Defence Force and the Republic of Korea Air Force.
With the large increase in aircraft and operations during the two weeks of Red Flag, it is up to the personnel in Eielson’s Air Traffic Control Tower to ensure a smooth and safe operation for both launches and recoveries. Operating across three shifts, the 25 personnel who man the tower, monitor up to ten different frequencies during these periods of operation. Each day brings new challenges to the ATC team and their professional response ensures that for each of these challenges they execute ‘smart, safe decisions that produce best practice each time’.
Participating units included:
United States Air Force
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New to Eielson for the exercise were the US Navy’s F-35C Lightning II aircraft of Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 86 ‘Sidewinders’ based at NAS Lemoore, CA. The squadron started transitioning from the F/A-18E Super Hornet in September 2023 and achieved the ‘Safe for Flight Operations Certification (SFFOC) in October 2024 having met all the specific standards in maintenance, personnel training, safety procedures and operational readiness for the F-35C.
United States Navy
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Overseas participants
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Eielson Air Force Base Heritage Park:
The Heritage Park was designed in 1992 by 1Lt Michael D. Huffstetler of the 343rd Civil Engineering Squadron and was originally built to house an A-10A and an F-4C as a permanent site near the main gate for two historic aircraft which had both been languishing on an apron for many years.
Developed as a long-term plan and design concept for a static display park (later named Heritage Park), this would allow for future expansion and assist Eielson AFB in attracting additional display aircraft that have over many years, contributed to the history of the base. In addition to his design, Lt Huffstetler also constructed a scale model of this development which is now housed at the site along with a Medal of Honor Monument, a POW-MIA memorial, a war memorial and an Air Monument.
Aircraft on display comprise:
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