JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- RED FLAG-Alaska 21-3 (RF-A 21-3), a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise designed to provide realistic training in a simulated combat environment, with primary flight operations over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, is scheduled to run from August 12-27.
Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Airmen participating in Red Flag-Alaska are ready and postured to support the U.S. commitment to the security and stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
Approximately 1,800 service members are expected to fly, maintain and support more than 80 aircraft from more than 20 units during this iteration of the exercise. In addition to the U.S., service members from the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) are scheduled to participate, enabling the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures while improving interoperability with fellow airmen.
The majority of aircraft will be based at, and fly from, and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson and Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska. RF-A 21-3 will be the first iteration of the exercise to feature F-35s from the RAAF, along with fifth-generation aircraft from the U.S.
RED FLAG-Alaska exercises provide unique opportunities to integrate various forces in a realistic threat environment and dates back to 1975 when it was held at Clark Air Base in the Philippines and called exercise COPE THUNDER.
Media interested in covering the exercise at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson should contact the 673d Air Base Wing Public Affairs office at (907) 552-4577. Media interested in covering the exercise at Eielson AFB should contact the 354th Fighter Wing Public Affairs office at (907) 377-2116.
Follow the RED FLAG-Alaska Defense Visual Information Distribution Service (DVIDS) page at https://www.dvidshub.net/feature/RedFlagAlaska for full coverage of the exercise.