Red Flag Alaska Military Exercise Kicks Off
A U.S. Air Force C-130J Super Hercules from the 39th Airlift Squadron performs low level maneuvers during RED FLAG-Alaska 2021. Red Flag-Alaska is designed to provide realistic training in a simulated combat environment. (Photo: U.S. Air Force / Senior Airman Emily Farnsworth).
Approximately 2,000 service members are expected to fly, maintain and support more than 70 aircraft from 32 units during the Pacific Air Forces-led exercise Red Flag-Alaska.
The military exercise Red Flag-Alaska 2023 is scheduled to begin on June 12, with primary flight operations over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.
Approximately 2,000 service members are expected to fly, maintain and support more than 70 aircraft from 32 units during this iteration of the exercise, a press release from Pacific Air Forces Public Affairs states.
Most aircraft will be based at, and fly from, Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.
Two Japan Air Self-Defense Forces F-2 pilots fly behind a KC-135 Stratotanker, assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, Kadena Air Base, Japan, during RED FLAG-Alaska 19-2 near Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 20, 2019. (Photo: U.S. Air Force / Staff Sgt. Matthew Lotz).
In addition to the U.S., service members from the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and Republic of Korea Air Force are scheduled to participate in the exercise, enabling the participants to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures while improving interoperability.
Red Flag-Alaska exercises provide unique opportunities to integrate various forces in a realistic threat environment and dates back to 1975, when it was held at Clark Air Base, Philippines, and was called Exercise Cope Thunder.
The exercise, which is led by US Pacific Air Forces, is scheduled to run through June 23.
