Red Flag 17-1 is living up to its reputation as a grueling and rigorous test of fighter pilot skills, according to Hill Air Force Base F-35A pilots participating in the premier air-to-air combat exercise at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., from Jan. 23 to Feb. 10.
The three-week exercise has friendly "Blue Force" taking on enemy "Red Force" aggressors in both live and mock training environments to test air-to-air, air-to-ground, and space and cyber warfare during both day and nighttime missions.