Page 1 - Desert Lightning News, Nellis-Creech AFB Edition, March 4, 2022
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vol. 5, no. 5 Serving Southern Nevada’s military community, including Nellis, Creech and NTTR march 4, 2022
An Aerotech news And review publicAtion • www.Aerotechnews.com
British Voyagers refuel
u.s. NaVy growlers duriNg
red flag-Nellis 22-1
Air Force photographs by Airman 1st Class Zachary Rufus
A U.S. Navy EA-18G Growlers assigned to the “Garudas” Electronic Attack Squadron (VAQ) 134,
Naval Air Station Whidbey Island, Wash., receives air-to-air refueling from a Royal Air Force Voyager
tanker assigned to 101 Squadron, RAF Brize Norton, United Kingdom, during a Red Flag-Nellis 22-1
mission Feb. 3, 2022, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The Nevada Test and Training Range is the U.S.
Air Force’s premier military training area with more than 12,000 square miles.
by Airman 1st Class Zachary Rufus Force and the Royal Australian Air Force.
Nellis AFB, Nev. While aircraft like the F-35s, F-22s
and F-16s are refueled mid-air during the
During Red Flag-Nellis 22-1, a Royal Air exercise with the American KC-135 Strato-
Force Voyager tanker refueled U.S. Navy tanker, the Navy Growlers need a drogue
EA-18G Growlers, emphasizing the interop- system to refuel. Royal Air Force Sqdn. Ldr. Bracken, RAF Voyager tanker captain, and RAF Flt.
erability conducted during this iteration. The Voyager is equipped with that system Lt. Renolds, RAF Voyager tanker co-captain, participate in a Red Flag-Nellis
Around 2,900 personnel participated and serves as a force multiplier that helps 22-1 mission Feb. 3, 2022, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev. The RAF 101 Squadron
in Red Flag-Nellis 22-1 Jan. 24-Feb. 11, keep Navy fighters in the air for longer pe- is one of 32 units from across the U.S. joint forces, United Kingdom (Royal Air
hailing from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, riods during simulated combat sorties. Force) and Australia (Royal Australian Air Force) participating in Red Flag-Nellis
Marines, Space Force, Air National Guard, _______ 22-1. The Voyager is the RAF’s sole air-to-air refueling (AAR) tanker and also
U.S. Air Force Reserves, the Royal Air See Red Flag, on Page 6 & 7 operates as a strategic air transport.