United Arab Emirates take off for historic first Red Flag

TUCSON, Ariz -- F-16 pilots and maintainers from the United Arab Emirates Air Force are set to participate in their country's first Red Flag exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Aug. 22 - Sept. 5.

by Capt. Gabe Johnson
162nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

The U.A.E. airmen spent the previous two weeks at the Arizona Air National Guard's 162nd Fighter Wing at Tucson International Airport preparing for the advanced training exercise that exposes U.S. and partner nation air force units to challenging and realistic aerial combat scenarios. 

For the Emirati pilots, the spin up in Tucson was a chance to get familiar with U.S. airspace and reunite with their former instructors. Arizona Guardsmen have trained U.A.E. fighter pilots for the last eight years, five of which in their own aircraft. Currently, the wing's 148th Fighter Squadron is the only squadron of U.A.E.-owned F-16E Desert Falcons, or block 60s, in the United States. 

"It's been great to welcome back our friends from the U.A.E., some of whom we haven't seen for a while," said Col. Greg Stroud, the wing commander. "It's really rewarding for us to see how they've developed as pilots and we're proud to see them participate in their first Red Flag." 

"Of course, it's historic for the Emiratis to go to Red Flag for the first time, and our wing gets to share the importance of this milestone since we've been training them from the beginning. They're ready." 

The Emiratis will take on Red Flag flying their Tucson-based fighters, the most advanced F-16s ever built. 

"The block 60 is similar to earlier versions of the F-16 in that it flies the same, but in terms of capabilities it's more advanced," said Lt. Col. Mick McGuire, 148th Fighter Squadron commander. 

The F-16E's most notable characteristics include conformal fuel tanks mounted on the top of its fuselage, digital color screens in the cockpit and a powerful engine to compensate for the jet's increase in weight. 

"It's typically called a generation 4.5 fighter, not quite at the level of the 5th generation F-22 or F-35, but its avionics, thrust and fuel capacity make it a very formidable fighter," said Colonel McGuire. "They should do very well at Red Flag and return to the U.A.E. having learned many good lessons from the experience." 


Red Flag, designed to push the limits of a pilot's skill regardless of aircraft capability, will further build upon the military to military relationship originally fostered in Arizona. According to Colonel Stroud, Red Flag and the basic F-16 course taught at the 162nd play important roles in making the United Arab Emirates Air Force as capable as it can be. 

The Tucson wing currently has nine Emirati student pilots in its basic course. They will graduate after nine months as mission qualified F-16 pilots and could be among future cadres of UAE pilots to visit Red Flag in years to come. 

"They're getting world-class training and, for us, it gives us the opportunity to fly a generation 4.5 F-16 and see what the future may hold for the next U.S. fighter," said Colonel Stroud.

 Red Flag 09-05 exercise kicks off Aug. 24 (source)

NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Southern Nevada residents may notice increased military aircraft activity as the Air Force hosts Red Flag exercises Aug. 24 to Sept. 4.

Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is conducted on the 15,000-square-mile Nevada Test and Training Range, north of Las Vegas. Red Flag is one of a series of advanced training programs administered by the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and Nellis, through the 414th Combat Training Squadron.

More than 70 aircraft will depart Nellis twice a day, in the mid afternoon and again around 10 p.m. Aircraft may remain in the air for up to four hours. The flying times are scheduled to accommodate the other flying missions at Nellis and provide Red Flag participants with valuable night-time training.

In addition to Nellis aircraft, the exercise will feature participating aircraft from Massachusetts, Utah, Louisiana, California, Washington, Florida, Oklahoma and Kansas and will include B-52s, F-15s, F-16s, EA-6Bs, EC-130s, E-3, F/A-18s, MC-130s and KC-135s. In addition to U.S. aircraft, the Italian Air Force will take part with AMXs and the United Arab Emirates will be participating in Red Flag for the first time and fly F-16s. 

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