8 JAS-39 started today the 11 January 2013 from Malmö, southern Sweden together with 2 KC-10 for Red Flag. They are followed by a An-124 for transports. The air unit is the 172 squadron from Ronneby/Kallinge in Southern Sweden.
The flight is planned with 3 jumps, with stops at Azores and Maine.
NELLIS AIR FORCE BASE, Nev. -- Southern Nevada residents may notice increased military aircraft activity as the Air Force conducts Red Flag 13-2 from Jan. 21 - Feb. 1.
Red Flag is a realistic combat training exercise involving the air forces of the United States and its allies. The exercise is hosted north of Las Vegas on the Nevada Test and Training Range -- the U.S. Air Force's premier military training area with more than 12,000 square miles of airspace and
2.9 million acres of land. With 1,900 possible targets, realistic threat systems, and an opposing enemy force that cannot be replicated anywhere else in the world, Nellis and the NTTR are the home of a peacetime battlefield, providing combat air forces with the ability to train to fight together, survive together, and win together.
The 414th Combat Training Squadron is responsible for executing Red Flag and the exercise is just one of a series of advanced training programs administered at Nellis AFB and on the NTTR by organizations assigned to the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center.
More than 90 aircraft are scheduled to depart Nellis twice a day, around noon and again around 6 p.m. Aircraft may remain in the air for up to eight hours. The flying times are scheduled to accommodate the other flying missions at Nellis and provide Red Flag participants with valuable training in planning and executing a wide-variety of combat missions.
The exercise will include U.S. forces and aircraft from:
Two KC-10 departed Mildenhall 15.50 with 8 JAS 39 C Gripen in two groups for Azores (5 hours flight). The flight should be done as a real tactical transfer flight from Mildenhall to Nellis.
JAS 39 C participating:
249
252
255
264
269
278
282
284
This is the units final examination before the EU work later this year.
one of the JAS39 broke its fuel probe during fuel transfer. Both KC10s and the 8 JAS39 diverted to Mildenhall. Expected to continue on Mon 14/1.
In the meantime 2 (284 + 282) have just departed Mildenhall to Sweden - one of which should be the broken one. 2 JAS39 are due back from Sweden this evening.
Other SP Vipers noted on Jan 9, 2013.
90-0827, 829, 918, 91-0361, 366 "480 FS", 402, 407, 412, 416, 417, 96-0080.
Mirage 2000's from the UAE came in on Friday. 3 came in on the left runway (speedway side) and the first one of the second group came directly overhead. Therefore some questions with the retro 81/83 and retro 91.
Retro 81/83: 733, 708, 710.
Retro 91/93: 729, 763, 731.
Support was by C-17's: 1227 as "UAE AF 1226 Heavy" and 1224 as :UAE AF 1224 Heavy." Both arrived on the 9th and left again to return on the 11th.
Last edited by tally on 14 Jan 2013, 02:57, edited 2 times in total.
no. there was a small plane leaving when I was driving up Wednesday just before 10:30, but I was too late. thought it was a jet though.
Left Friday around noonish or so. caught the UAE C-17s and went home. Friday afternoons are usually too slow unless I know for sure somethings inbound (like next Fridayshould be).
I am interested to knew the purpose of this Red Flag.
What I can see are most of the planes to operate in the same type of Electronic Order of battle such as the S-400 (Russia), Buk 2 (Russia) and HQ-9 (China) with their last types of radars such as Tomb Stone.
US also have a special combi radar to operate as a Chinese or Russian newer types of radar. They must also simulate "other" types of AWACS.
I understand that China are interested to test their last HQ-9B and HQ-9C as they state they are as good as S-400.
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