Page 50 - Leverage and Learn

Leverage Allied Investments and Combat Learning Experience in Modernizing the U.S. Military

The first Exercise Red Flag was held in November 1975, borne out of the USAF’s analysis of the Vietnam War,
which found an aircrew’s chances of survival increased if they had flown at least ten combat missions.

Those ten missions are now conducted in a modern and simulated high-threat environment at Red Flag, with the
most recent exercise seeing an increase in the capability of ‘enemy’ surface-to-air missiles and aggressor fighter
aircraft in the training range. This provides greater training challenges for the increased number of advanced
fifth generation fighter aircraft participating in the exercise, such as USAF’s F-22A Raptor and F-35A Lightning
II.

“It is gruelling and rigorous, but all of our personnel have a fantastic time and get great value out of the
exercise,” Group Captain Bellingham said.

“We’ll take information and training back and feed it into our force preparation, and will translate into our
current operations.”

For the Australian contingent, the participation of USAF-operated F-35As – as well as the United States Navy’s
E/A-18G Growler electronic attack jet – provided exposure to capabilities that will soon enter RAAF service.

“We are integrated with these capabilities from start to finish, from planning missions, through to debriefing the
missions,” Group Captain Bellingham said.

“Australia has Air Battlespace Managers from No. 2 Squadron and No. 41 Wing who are controlling the Red
Flag airspace, and getting firsthand experience how these capabilities can be employed.

“We’re getting real insight into understanding the capabilities and what Australia’s future is going to look like.”

Group Captain Bellingham also became the first non-US participant to be Director of the Combined Air and
Space Operations Centre (CAOC) at Nellis, leading 250 American, British and Australian personnel.

The CAOC is responsible for planning the Red Flag missions and ensuring they’re coordinated with space and
cyber-based efforts, which can be contested by an aggressing force.

“Our coalition allies have been extremely engaging and supportive of our involvement in the exercise.

“In my 30 years of the Air Force, this is one of the highlights, being at the exercise is as realistic as it gets.”

https://news.defence.gov.au/media/media-releases/air-force-wraps-exercise-red-flag-17-1-nevada

An Update on the Australian Wedgetail and Its Evolution: A Discussion
with Group Captain Stuart Bellingham

2017-04-07 By Robbin Laird
During my visit to Australia in April 2017, I had a chance to continue my discussions with Group Captain Stuart
Bellingham, Officer Commanding Number 42 Wing, about the Wedgetail and its continuing evolution.

The Wedgetail has demonstrated in the Middle East and in high end warfare exercises that it is a very good
fit for the shift to a fifth generation enabled air combat force.

Most recently, I heard from USAF and RAF personnel involved in the first Red Flag this year, how impressive
they found the aircraft.

Second Line of Defense

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