The US and allies test interoperability during Exercise Red Flag 25-2
March 18, 2025
The US Air Force holds several Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base each year, some of them open to US units only, others allowing participation by top tier allies (eg Australia and the UK) and some to newer partners. The exercises are conducted over the 2.9 million square acre Nevada Test and Training Range.
Red Flag exercises were born from the Vietnam War, during which the US Air Force lost more than 1,700 aircraft and thousands of airmen in combat. Studies showed that the first ten combat missions were the most dangerous for aircrews, so the Air Force devised a better way to prepare for battle: Red Flag.
The basic purpose is to allow participants to experience those “first ten combat missions” in a realistic but controlled environment, providing more elaborate combat scenarios for warfighters to train against.
The exercises are designed to emulate the tactics, techniques and equipment of potential adversaries, with dedicated aggressor forces playing a crucial role, injecting realism into every scenario. This focus on replicating real-world threats stems directly from the historical lessons that led to Red Flag’s creation.
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“By conducting realistic training scenarios in a controlled environment, Red Flag enables aircrews to hone their skills, which is crucial given that studies have shown the first 10 combat missions pose the highest risks,” said Col. Eric Winterbottom, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander.
The exercise provides participants a critical opportunity to plan and execute air operations in a realistic, contested environment—one that simulates the complexities of modern warfare with degraded communications, limited resources, and advanced threats. Participants practise assembling and employing a more flexible and combat-ready force, improving their ability to rapidly generate air power and refine agile combat employment tactics for real-world application.
The 552nd Air Control Wing from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma, orchestrated the exercises directing increasingly complex mission scenarios against formidable aggressor forces.
Colonel Winterbottom said that: “Red Flag-Nellis 25-2 exemplifies how international collaboration transforms our air combat capabilities, as diverse units come together to enhance operational readiness and foster long-term relationships.”
