The Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) has begun the two-week-long advanced international air combat training activity, Exercise Red Flag, at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, US.
About seven F/A-18 Hornets from RAAF Williamtown’s No 3 Squadron will participate in the air combat training alongside Japan, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and US forces.
A C-130J Hercules and joint terminal attack controllers will also participate for the first time to provide strategic air lift and logistic support during the exercise.
The exercise involves a series of realistic air combat scenarios to test operational air and ground crew capabilities in a coalition scenario.
Air crew will also perform counter-air, precision strike and offensive air support in packages of up to 100 aircraft.
Red Flag is a US Pacific Air Forces Command-led large force employment exercise designed to replicate a high-end combat environment.
