The Air Force 388th Fighter Wing's 4th Fighter Squadron completed a challenging Red Flag training exercise with the F-35A Joint Strike Fighter on Feb. 15. According to a release, the exercise, at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, integrated the F-35A as a large friendly "Blue Force" against a capable adversary "Red Force." In all, nearly 3,000 personnel and 39 units participated in the Air Force exercise, including the U.S. Navy, British Royal Air Force and Royal Australian Air Force. The enemy Red Force incorporated hybrid threats and advanced weapons systems, the Air Force said, simulating a near-peer adversary. Their capabilities included cyber warfare and advanced integrated air-defense systems. Many missions also simulated "contested or denied" environments, where the Blue Force had to contend with GPS denial, electronic attack, and communications jamming. The exercise stretched out for three weeks and was deemed a success for the F-35. Read more at AF.mil.
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