NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- The skies above Nevada will roar as Red Flag-Nellis 25-2 kicks off, welcoming 1500 participants from 15 units representing the U.S. Air Force, Marine Corps, United Arab Emirates Air Force, Royal Saudi Air Force, and the Turkish Air Force. As lead wing, the 552nd Air Control Wing from Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma will orchestrate the maneuvers as they engage in complex mission scenarios against formidable aggressor forces.
"By conducting realistic training scenarios in a controlled environment,” said Col. Eric Winterbottom, 414th Combat Training Squadron commander, “Red Flag enables aircrews to hone their skills, which is crucial given that studies have shown the first ten combat missions pose the highest risks.”
Designed to emulate the tactics, techniques and equipment of potential adversaries, aggressor forces play a crucial role in Red Flag exercises, 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.
Red Flag exercises were born from the Vietnam War, during which the U.S. 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.
Today, U.S. Air Force aircrews come to Nellis several times each year to accomplish those first ten combat missions in a realistic but controlled environment conducted over the 2.9 million square acre Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR). With global partners, Red Flag offers more elaborate combat scenarios for warfighters to train against.
"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," said Winterbottom.
Red Flag 25-2 emphasizes the crucial role assembling a more flexible and combat-ready force. 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.
By training together under these conditions, participants enhance their ability to rapidly generate air power and refine agile combat employment tactics for real-world application.
Red Flag 25-2 is scheduled to run through March 21, providing invaluable training and strengthening partnerships between partner air forces.