EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- RED FLAG-Alaska 26-3 wrapped up here on Aug. 28, after two weeks of realistic combat training for joint partners and allied nations at both Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.
The training brought together 79 aircraft from 10 units within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, the largest instrumented air, ground and electronic combat training range in the world. This environment was optimal to expand the capabilities of 5th generation aviators in the F-35 Lightning II, which the 13th Fighter Squadron from Misawa Air Base, Japan, flew in the exercise for the first time.
“The training airspace in Alaska is the best in the world,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jeromy Guinther, 35th Operations Group commander at Misawa AB, and deployed forces commander for RF-A 26-3. “It's the largest overland training airspace that the Department of War has anywhere, and we have the great beauty and terrain which allows for us to do things here in Alaska that we cannot do at other places.”
RF-A distinguishes itself from other similar exercises by providing a realistic opposing force–known as ‘Aggressor’ units–who can replicate real surface-to-air and air-to-air threats, employing enemy tactics during air combat training. The 18th Fighter Interceptor Squadron, assigned to Eielson AB, provides F-16 Fighting Falcons to achieve the most realistic simulated combat environment in the Pacific.
“We love having them, we love putting them to work,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. Jacob Decelles, Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 225 F-35B pilot. “It’s important to fight not just the aircraft that you’re in, so having the [F-16] out here was awesome.”
Another major aspect of RF-A is getting to train with and learn from joint partners and allies. Often, sister services and allied nations’ service members study the same material, but there are differences in how it is interpreted, said Decelles. Learning those differences and building on strengths and weaknesses makes those partnerships stronger.
“Anywhere we go in the [Pacific area of responsibility], the United States is not going to go alone,” said Guinther. “We're going to go with our allies. A few of the key ones are here training with us at RF-A 26-3: most notably, the Australians, who do everything with us and are very close allies.”
As the last iteration this year, RF-A 26-3 prepares many of its participating units for future deployments in the Pacific AOR.
“I've told the team to treat 26-3 as their last chance,” said Guinther. “Whether it's the maintainer on the flight line, the support cook at the kitchen, or any of the team that helps get these aircraft into the air and back home safely. I want them to remember that this might be the last chance for a lot of these aviators. This is our last chance to get folks the training they need that will bring them home in combat.”