Red Flag 20-2

For anyone in the Vegas area, or that can get to the Vegas area, 20-2 will be a fun one, with some great photo opportunities. Four Italian F-35As are already at Nellis, with two more at Pease, along with six Typhoons. The German and Spanish advance teams are either in town, or arriving today. Both are bringing Typhoons, and the Germans are bringing Tornados as well. There will also be a NATO and US E-3, Luke based F-35As, B-52s, and more.

Red Flag 20-2 kicks off March 6, and runs through the 20th.

originally posted by: Zaphod58
For anyone in the Vegas area, or that can get to the Vegas area, 20-2 will be a fun one, with some great photo opportunities. Four Italian F-35As are already at Nellis, with two more at Pease, along with six Typhoons. The German and Spanish advance teams are either in town, or arriving today. Both are bringing Typhoons, and the Germans are bringing Tornados as well. There will also be a NATO and US E-3, Luke based F-35As, B-52s, and more.

Red Flag 20-2 kicks off March 6, and runs through the 20th.

Does that mean there is likely to be more activity at Star Wars canyon?

a reply to: 1947boomer

No, the Red guys normally don't do the Canyon. Green Flag sometimes does. Red goes out over the ranges out near Alamo and works out that way.

Word this morning is Germany will send 10 Typhoons, and 9 Tornados.

a reply to: Zaphod58

^^ basically their entire operational fleet

a reply to: mightmight

That's what I said too.

Are those Tornado’s the German ones they keep permanently over in the states to do the various exercises with??...the RAF used to do a similar thing with our Tornado‘a back in the 80’s and 90’s...a reply to: Zaphod58

a reply to: Silentvulcan

They pulled them all out and back to Germany.

The European contingent is not off to a great start. The Italians all made it to Nellis, after leaving an F-35 at Lajes and another at Pease. They joined up with the Typhoon contingent and continued with them.

The Spanish have one flight, escorted by an RAF Voyager, about to land at Dover AFB. Their second flight apparently aborted at Lajes due to winds, after starting to taxi for the runway.

The Germans, as expected, are a hot mess. The US tanker crews waiting for them are getting to spend plenty of time in London. They were initially expected into Bangor Friday afternoon. That has since slipped twice, and they are apparently going to try again tomorrow. The tankers were scheduled off from Mildenhall at 1300 local today, and were still on the deck at 1340.

Any Raf going this time..??? a reply to: Zaphod58

a reply to: Silentvulcan

No, they were just here for -1 with the RAAF.

Ahh...right thanks Zaph...a reply to: Zaphod58

a reply to: Silentvulcan

The last few years it seems the RAF and RAAF are always at -1, and either -2 or -3 is US only. That one seems to try new toys out.

Back in the day I only ever did Green Flags with the GR 1’s....good times...🍺🍺🍺a reply to: Zaphod58

We're getting interesting color as well. The Spanish brought their Tiger Meet Typhoon, and one of the NATO E-3s coming is the anniversary bird.

Apparently the Italians have included their G550 CAEW aircraft as well.

a reply to: Zaphod58

Wish the USAF would settle for G550 or an analogue for several missions. It apparently isn't big and fancy enough to garner appropriate interest.

a reply to: RadioRobert

The Navy is getting at least two. That might push them once they get an idea what they can do.

Minot and Barksdale sent 10 B-52s to Nellis today. Apparently Minot will participate in Green Flag, and Barksdale in Red Flag.

The Red Devils also arrived and brought their color bird. This is probably the best Flag since Israel and the UAE were there several years ago.

a reply to: Zaphod58

They are still in the reinventing the wheel stage re:ABMS. The easy and cheap answer is slightly modified Wedgetails and Gulfstream basically already in production networked to replace JSTARS, AWACS, Rivet Joint, BACN, etc.

We could pump them out like hotcakes for cheap and have distributed ABMS far superior to our current capabilities within 4 yrs.

But we'll study it for five years and then cancel various goldplated programs for the next twenty looking for a one-size fits all answer.