Royal Air Force aircrew from RAF Waddington based 51 Squadron, are conducting integrated crew training flying on Exercise Red Flag from Nellis Air Base Nevada.
The aircrew have joined with United States Air Force aircrew, to fly a RC 135 Rivet Joint intelligence gathering aircraft as part of the exercise. This is the first time that an integrated crew has flown on the exercise for several years and is one element of the newly expanded but long-established exercise.
In addition to this integrated crew, other elements that are new for this year’s exercise are a vastly increased geographical area to challenge participants to overcome what United States Air Force planners are calling the ‘Tyranny of Distance’. This means that large multi engine aircraft are now fully integrated into the missions, in addition to the traditional combat air missions of previous exercises.
The 51 Squadron detachment is led by Flight Lieutenant Wilkes, a navigator with the squadron.
This exercise is an extremely important opportunity for us to integrate and work with our United States Air Force colleagues. With the high operational tempo of the squadron, the opportunity to conduct such high intensity training that the exercise offers, is extremely valuable. It gives an opportunity to develop 51 Squadron aircrew as a whole, as we will be able to share our experiences on our return to the squadron.
Flight Lieutenant Wilkes
RAF Navigator, 51 Squadron
The RAF RC 135 Rivet Joint Aircraft are fully integrated into the United States Air Force Rivet Joint Fleet flown by the United States Air Force 55th Wing based at Offutt Air Force Base Nebraska and are part of single cycle of upgrades to develop the aircraft. In addition to ensuring the aircraft of the RAF and United States Air Force are the same, the aircrew are trained to the same standard and are therefore qualified to operate each nation’s aircraft.
For Exercise RED FLAG the United States Air Force Rivet Joint detachment commander is Major Marc ‘Dirty’ Ramos from the 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron, based at Offutt AFB.
The benefit of this integration is that we are all able to share our varied experiences from our collective worldwide operations. The RAF crew bring with them their depth of operational experience in Europe which contributes immensely to our wider understanding and planning for our missions on this exercise. The Rivet Joint community is relatively small, and it is important we maintain this close partnership and open exchange of knowledge.
Major Marc ‘Dirty’ Ramos
US Air Force Rivet Joint Commander, 343rd Reconnaissance Squadron
During the exercise the Rivet Joint aircrew are providing intelligence that can be passed directly to the combat fast jets of the RAF, United States Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, United States Navy and US Marine Corps that are conducting the simulated combat missions. The intelligence gathered contributes to the understanding of the complex simulated ground-based air defence systems, as well as aggressor aircraft that are simulating a peer adversary, together with cyber and space-based threats that are being faced by the ‘Blue’ forces.
