Red Flag & Black Flag: How The US Air Force Trains For Aerial Warfare

Summary Red Flag exercises enhance readiness 414th Combat Training Squadron leads Red Flag exercises Black Flag exercises promote capability & innovation The US Air Force takes the maxim “you only fight as well as you train” very seriously. Since 1975, it has been holding massive Red Flag exercises to prepare pilots for combat, while Black Flag (formally established in 2020) exercises focus on testing and innovation in new environments. Red Flag exercises build readiness, and Black Flag exercises build capability. Air Force exercises are made to be realistic, and it even converts retired F-16 Fighting Falcons into drone aerial targets…