Red Flag Exercise

Flight Journal, Aug 2004 by Taurino, Giovanni

FROM FEBRUARY 27 through March 27 this year, at the Nellis AFB, Nevada, Team Nellis and specifically the 414th Combat Training Squadron hosted the world's largest ever Red Flag international training exercise (Flag 04-2). Interdiction, attack, air-superiority, suppression of enemy air defenses (SEAD), airlift, air refueling and reconnaissance exercises were conducted with a variety of aircraft. Many U.S. units and contingents from Denmark, the Netherlands, Singapore, Spain and the United Kingdom participated.

Innovations included daytime operations at the Nevada Test and Training Range complex's northern and southern areas. Planners conducted missions tailored to suit this type of area, and that allowed the units involved to train more effectively. Air crews practiced Time Sensitive Targeting (TST) and Time Critical Targeting (TCT) missions in which they were tasked to find and engage an emerging threat and use non-traditional weapons systems.

MQ-1 Predator remotely piloted aircraft and U-2 high-altitude surveillance aircraft were also integral to the missions as were the combat search-and-rescue task forces.

The Combined Air Operations Center at Nellis AFB was the exercise control hub.

-Giovanni Taurino