Page 1 - Aerotech News 7-3-15

31st TES F-35s take on Green Flag 15-08

Air Force photographs by SrA. Joshua Kleinholz space realms are constructed to test the sol-
diers and airmen on their ability to persist and
An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 31st Test and Evaluation Squadron, Edwards Air Force Base, Calif., approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned ¿JKWEDFNLQMRLQWPXOWLIDFHWHGDWWDFNV
to the 927th Air Refueling Wing, MacDill AFB, Fla., for a refuel during a Green Flag 15-08 training sortie in the skies over the National Training Center,
Calif., June 10, 2015. Green Flag iteration 15-08 brought about an increased role for the F-35 as it continues through its stages of operational testing. During iteration 15-08, two F-35s took on
a primary exercise role as the close air sup-
port providers, penetrating a contested and
GHJUDGHGEDWWOHVSDFHDZDLWLQJFDOOVIRU¿UH
from ground commanders below.

Developments in the F-35 program remain
a high priority for Department of Defense
and Air Force leadership alike, as pressure
mounts to realize the system’s full capabili-
ties. It’s a positive that for JTACs and air li-
DLVRQRI¿FHUVFDOOLQJVKRWVIURPWKHVDQGWKH
sleek looking gray triangle darting through
the clouds was doing its job effectively —
just like those that came before it.

“We’re working for mass inter-agency ef-
fects here,” said U.S. Army Col. Matthew
Moore, NTC Operations Group deputy com-
mander. “We’re glad to have the support of
the F-35s here and that it was able to play its
role in what is a full team effort.”

The roles played by the two operational
test fighters seem relatively modest when
examined within the immense scale of a
National Training Center rotation. Fourteen
days of maneuvering against adversaries in
vast desert mountain ranges makes Green
Flag a test of the mind and body alike. But
when help from the air was called upon, F-35
pilots from the 31st TES communicated and
used their systems with precision.

They created strategic effects that left
troops on the ground largely unware and un-
concerned of what airframe they might be
XVLQJ²VHDPOHVVLQWHJUDWLRQDWLWV¿QHVW

CZ4S"+PTIVB,MFJOIPM[ SUHGHSOR\PHQWWULDOE\¿UH
Nellis AFB, Nev. “Green Flag trains us to never become vic-

F-35A Lightning IIs from the 31st Test and tims of our terrain,” said U.S. Army Maj. Ian
Evaluation Squadron, Edwards Air Force Lauer, NTC Operations Group operations of-
Base, Calif., played the U.S. Army’s “eyes ¿FHU³,W¶VDERXWXQGHUVWDQGLQJWKHFRQWH[WLQ
in the sky” during the latest iteration of the ZKLFKZH¶OO¿JKWDQGXVLQJWKDWXQGHUVWDQGLQJ
Green Flag exercise, GF 15-08, as the Air to build an aggressive advantage.”
Force’s program works toward its goal of
declaring initial operational capability by the Working alongside soldiers from the 1st
end of this year. Brigade Combat Team, Fort Bliss, Texas,
were joint terminal attack controllers assigned
The exercise, conducted ten times annually to the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron
on the 1,200 square-mile ranges of the Na- who were are tasked with creating and main-
tional Training Center at Fort Irwin, Calif., taining that vital link between units on the
pits more than 5,000 Army soldiers against ground and airpower soaring above.
simulated enemy forces in a two-week long
Intelligent adversaries operating on the
ground as well as the air, space, and cyber-

Right: A tactical air control party airman from the 7th Air Support Operations Squadron, Fort Bliss,

Texas, looks on as an F-16 Fighting Falcon executes a “show of force” in the skies over the National

Traning Center Range, Fort Irwin, Calif., during a Green Flag 15-08 training scenario June 12, 2015.
$IWHUDQLQWHJUDWHGDWWDFNPDQHXYHUFRPELQLQJ¿UHIURPDUPRUHGYHKLFOHVDUWLOOHU\DQGDLUFUDIWDOLNH

this display of air dominance can act as a deterrent for any remaining enemy combatants in the area.

+VMZ
r7PMVNF
*TTVF Serving the aerospace industry since 1986 Use your smartphone to connect to
www.facebook.com/aerotechnews our Website.
www.aerotechnews.com