Operation Red Flag – Alaska

Operation Red Flag – Alaska
Name	Operation Red Flag – Alaska
Location	Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska Range
Type	Large-force combat training exercise
Participants	United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Army, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force

Operation Red Flag – Alaska Operation Red Flag – Alaska is a recurring large-force aerial combat training exercise conducted in Alaska that brings together units from the United States Air Force, United States Navy, United States Marine Corps, United States Army, and allied air forces such as the Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal Canadian Air Force. Modeled to provide realistic combat simulations, the exercise integrates assets from F-22 Raptor, F-35 Lightning II, F-16 Fighting Falcon, F/A-18 Super Hornet, and electronic warfare platforms like the EA-18G Growler and E-3 Sentry. Conducted primarily at Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base, Red Flag – Alaska leverages ranges including the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex to simulate contested environments reminiscent of crises in the Pacific Theater, Arctic region, and areas of interest near Northeast Asia.

Overview

Red Flag – Alaska is structured to replicate high-threat contested airspaces drawing on lessons from events like the Gulf War, the Kosovo War, and operations over Iraq War, allowing participants from the Pacific Air Forces, Air Combat Command, U.S. Northern Command, and allied commands to practice integrated campaigns. The exercise emphasizes combined arms interoperability among fighter, bomber, tanker, reconnaissance, and electronic attack units such as B-2 Spirit, B-52 Stratofortress, KC-135 Stratotanker, RC-135 Rivet Joint, and MQ-9 Reaper. Scenarios often mirror crisis response frameworks seen in NATO exercises and bilateral activities with partners in the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and Arctic cooperation forums.

History and Development

Red Flag – Alaska traces its doctrinal roots to the original Red Flag exercises at Nellis Air Force Base established after analyses of air combat in Vietnam War and institutionalized through Large Force Employment concepts developed by Tactical Air Command and later Air Combat Command. Expansion into Alaska grew from strategic shifts after the Cold War and operational demands highlighted during the Post–Cold War military reorganizations and engagements in the Global War on Terrorism. Development of the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex and investments in instrumentation, threat emitters, and urban training infrastructures reflect partnerships with agencies such as U.S. Department of Defense and coordination with indigenous and state authorities like the Alaska National Guard.

Participants and Units

Units rotating into Red Flag – Alaska include wings and squadrons from Pacific Air Forces, Air National Guard, and carrier air wings attached to United States Pacific Fleet. Allied participants have included squadrons from the Royal Air Force Regiment, Royal Australian Air Force No. 75 Squadron RAAF, and Royal Canadian Air Force 409 Squadron, alongside U.S. units like the 353rd Combat Training Squadron and aircrews from the 354th Fighter Wing, 3rd Wing, and Pacific Air Forces Division. Support and range control elements involve units from the Eleventh Air Force and test organizations such as United States Air Force Warfare Center.

Training Objectives and Scenarios

Objectives focus on suppression of enemy air defenses by units like F-16 Fighting Falcon and EA-18G Growler, airborne command and control integration using platforms like E-3 Sentry and E-8 Joint STARS, aerial refueling coordination with KC-135 Stratotanker and KC-10 Extender, and long-range strike missions employing assets such as B-1 Lancer and B-2 Spirit. Scenarios replicate integrated air defense systems reminiscent of those fielded by state actors discussed in Strategic competition analyses, incorporating cyber and space effects tied to organizations like U.S. Cyber Command and United States Space Force. Training also exercises joint terminal attack controller procedures familiar to United States Army Special Forces and close air support integrating United States Marine Corps aviation.

Facilities and Ranges

Primary venues include Joint Base Elmendorf–Richardson, Eielson Air Force Base, and the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, which offers overland and overwater airspace and instrumentation derived from projects with Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency-style requirements. Range infrastructure includes integrated threat emitters, ground-based mockups reflecting assets like S-400 Triumf and SA-10 Grumble analogs, and telemetry instrumentation compatible with systems used at Nellis Air Force Base and Pacific Missile Range Facility. Logistics and hosting draw on support from Alaska Air National Guard facilities and coordination with Federal Aviation Administration for airspace deconfliction.

Notable Exercises and Incidents

Notable iterations have featured participation during heightened tensions in East Asia and showcased first operational deployments of aircraft such as the F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II in integrated scenarios alongside allies. Incidents have included midair contingencies and accidents investigated by Air Force Safety Center and National Transportation Safety Board-related procedures when applicable, as well as diplomatic attention when exercises coincided with multinational incidents in Northeast Asia or Arctic maritime passages.

Impact and Strategic Significance

Red Flag – Alaska enhances readiness for large-force employment by validating tactics, techniques, and procedures used by components of United States Indo-Pacific Command, North American Aerospace Defense Command, and allied defense structures within Five Eyes partnerships. The exercise contributes to deterrence signaling in areas proximate to Russian Federation airspace and sea lanes, reinforces interoperability highlighted in bilateral pacts with Japan Self-Defense Forces and Republic of Korea Armed Forces, and informs modernization priorities for platforms such as F-35 Lightning II and integrated air defense countermeasures studied by Congressional Research Service analysts.

Category:Military exercises