The U.S. Air Force participated within the first Israeli Blue Flag exercise at Uvda Air Force Base, Israel, Nov. 24-28.
Blue Flag is the most important multinational aerial warfare keep fit exercise hosted by the Israeli air force. The exercise included forces from the U.S., Israel, Italy, and Greece. Its objectives were to enhance operational capabilities and combat effectiveness of the participating nations, and to foster combined relations, cultural understanding, and combat experience.
“It was a superior experience for the greater than 170-person U.S. Air Force team,” said Lt. Col. John Orchard, 492nd Fighter Squadron commander, Royal Air Force Lakenheath, England, and Air Force Blue Flag commander. “The Israelis provided an amazing training environment, which offered us the chance to profit from one another, and to exploit good airspace, surface threat replicators, and challenging scenarios. It was a true pleasure integrating with our Israeli, Italian and Greek partners who all offer unique tactical, strategic and cultural perspectives.”
The exercise allowed for the partnering nations to integrate their tactical capabilities to finish a particular mission. It also further strengthened the connection and armed forces partnerships.
“This was an outstanding opportunity for the participating nations to work on efficiencies, to practice becoming more logistically sound, and the way to get our forces from point A, to indicate B,” said Capt. Matthew Kuta, 492nd FS pilot. “It also provided us training on the way to actually operate together to continue to supply stability to the world.”
The U.S. Air Force deployed F-15E aircraft and support personnel from RAF Lakenheath, England, and a Combat Communications team from Ramstein Air Base, Germany.
Prior to the beginning of the exercise, the visiting nations had the chance to familiarize themselves with the airspace and flying procedures. The educational week offered four days of flying and preparation.
“Week one among Blue Flag was devoted to training and warm-up towards the particular exercise that befell during week two,” Kuta said. The airspace, mission duration, and a few of the procedures were a bit different to us. After the learning week, we were able to go.”
During the exercise, a practical war scenario was created which employed a friendly, multinational force (Blue Force) against an enemy aggressor force (Red Force). A simulated threat environment was created which caused the partnering forces to exploit careful integration and demanding analysis to have interaction the enemy and survive. The exercise included air-to-air and air-to-surface missions.
The Red Force invaded friendly airspace simulating opposing air forces’ tactics, trying to engage specific targets and all approaching aircraft. Their actions called for Blue Force to do so and eliminate the threat. The combined force merged its tactics, techniques, and procedures that effectively terminated attacks by the adversary Red Forces.
Although these partnering air forces have trained separately together before, this was the primary opportunity for the Israeli air force to conduct a multinational exercise of this magnitude of their country.
“We successfully completed the most important multinational exercise in Israel’s history,” said a senior Israeli air force source. The exercise required many preparations by air and ground crews, long before the partnering air forces landed in Israel. This has helped Israel improve its general air defense capabilities while learning together and cooperating with global allies.”
U.S. Ambassador to Israel, Dan Shapiro, visited the exercise location together with a delegation of observers from different countries. The observers were ready to witness one of the vital action to make a decision if their country will be occupied with participating in future Blue Flag exercises. Israel plans to conduct the exercise every two years.
“Israel lives in a perilous neighborhood,” said Shapiro. “We need the proper-equipped, best-trained forces as possible to give protection to our people and our security. We also need allies and now we have great allies here, all training together and reinforcing a partnership that gets stronger with each passing year.”
The U.S. defense force routinely take part in training exercises with NATO and other partner nations to enhance interoperability and preparedness. However, this exercise offered a completely unique experience for the U.S. Air Force to coach in unfamiliar airspace, with great partners.
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