Air Force
GalleryRed Flag exercise concludes at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada
Stars and Stripes
March 23, 2025
A Colorado Air National Guard F-16 Fighting Falcon climbs out of Nellis Air Force Base outside Las Vegas with afterburner engaged during Red Flag 25-2. The large-scale training event sharpens combat tactics and strengthens interoperability among joint and coalition forces. (Garrett N. Cole/U.S. Air Force)
Red Flag 25-2 — an annual exercise to strengthen multinational combat readiness — concluded at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada on Friday.
The aerial combat training exercise began on March 10 and had about 1,500 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.
“It’s been a great experience working with our allies and partners during Red Flag 25-2,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Benjamin Jensen, 5th Bomb Wing deputy commander. “All of the teams here have been extremely professional, and the collaboration with them will prove very beneficial in the event of future conflicts when we have to operate as a coalition.”
Five B-52H Stratofortress bombers from 23rd Bomb Squadron, “Bomber Barons,” integrated with the joint and allied forces and flew over 30 simulated combat flights, totaling over 96 flight hours from the exercise. The 23BS is based at Minot Air Force Base, N.D.
A 23rd Bomb Squadron (23BS) “Bomber Barons” patch is worn during Red Flag 25-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 12, 2025. The 23BS participated in Red Flag 25-2 to enhance the readiness and training necessary to respond as a joint force to any potential crisis or challenge across the globe. (Kyle Wilson/U.S. Air Force)
“The mission of Red Flag is to enhance the combat readiness of our air crews,” Jensen said. “For most of our younger B-52 air crews, this is their first time participating in Red Flag; they can take the lessons learned here and apply them in the execution of our global strike mission back at home station.”
Devised by the U.S. Air Force after the Vietnam War, Red Flag 25-2 is an opportunity for joint and allied forces to plan and execute air operations in a realistic, contested environment with degraded communications, limited resources and advanced threats, the Air Force said. Air crews trained in combat scenarios across 2.9 million square acres at Nevada Test and Training Range.
U.S. Marines assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, wait as F/A-18C Hornets prepare for a Red Flag-Nellis mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 19, 2025. (William Lewis/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron, Minot Air Force Base, receives in-flight refueling from a KC-135 Stratotanker in support of Red Flag-Nellis 25-2 over the Nevada Test and Training Range, Nev., March 18, 2025. (Michael Sanders/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Sean Kissinger, left, and Lance Cpl. Jacob Bukkhegyi, airframe mechanics with the Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232 (VMFA-232), Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, work on an F/A-18 Hornet in preparation of Red Flag-Nellis 25-2, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Mar. 10, 2025. (Michael Sanders/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force B-52 Stratofortress assigned to the 5th Bomb Wing, Minot Air Force Base (AFB), North Dakota, arrives to Nellis AFB for Red Flag-Nellis 25-2, March 10, 2025. (William Lewis/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 706th Aggressor Squadron, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 50th Air Refueling Squadron, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, for a Red Flag 25-2 mission over the Nevada Test and Training Range, March 13, 2025. (Josey Blades/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force Lt. Col. Brian “Chewy” Lewis, pilot, 140th Wing, Colorado Air National Guard, performs flight control checks before flying on the first day of Red Flag on Nellis Air Base, Nev., March 10, 2025. (Devon Cole/U.S. Air Force)
Airmen assigned to the 99th Air Refueling Squadron conduct pre-flight planning prior to a Red Flag Tanker Task Force mission in support of Red Flag 25-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 14, 2025. (Kyle Wilson/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 assigned to the 706th Aggressor Squadron takes off for a mission in support of Red Flag-Nellis 25-2 from Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 11, 2025. (Michael Sanders/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Air Force 1st Lt. Alberto Moita, 99th Air Refueling Squadron pilot, checks instruments during a Red Flag Tanker Task Force mission in support of Red Flag 25-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 14, 2025. (Kyle Wilson/U.S. Air Force)
UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters conduct flight operations during Red Flag 25-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 11, 2025. (Kyle Wilson/U.S. Air Force)
Senior Airman Justice Ryan, a 50th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, stands in the cockpit of a KC-135 Stratotanker on a sortie in support of Red Flag-Nellis 25-2, over the Nevada Test and Training Range, March 18, 2025. (Michael Sanders/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon assigned to the 706th Aggressor Squadron departs after aerial refueling with a U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 99th Air Refueling Squadron during a Red Flag Tanker Task Force mission in support of Red Flag 25-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 14, 2025. (Kyle Wilson/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Keith Bartlett, an F/A-18C Hornet pilot, assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 232, Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, conducts a preflight inspection on his aircraft before his Red Flag-Nellis mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 19, 2025. (William Lewis/U.S. Air Force)
Airmen assigned to the 23rd Bomber Generation Squadron perform maintenance on U.S. Air Force B-52H Stratofortress assigned to the 23rd Bomb Squadron in support of Red Flag 25-2 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., March 6, 2025. (Kyle Wilson/U.S. Air Force)