Eric Winterbottom News Today

This year’s Red Flag comes as US and allies operate against Houthi targets in Mideast.

Every winter, local news may mention Red Flag is happening at Nellis Air Force Base in Las Vegas, announcing, “be warned: it’s going to be loud in the northeast valley.” Beyond that, not many locals know what Red Flag is or why it happens.

Red Flag exercises provide aircrews the experience of multiple, intensive air combat sorties in the safety of a training environment. Red Flag 24-1 will focus on the Indo-Pacific Theater and combating the pacing challenge alongside allies and partners.

Aircrews from the U.S., British, and Australian air forces launched Red Flag intensive fighter training Monday in Nevada.

72nd Air Base Wing Public Affairs

One of the U.S. Air Force’s largest combat training exercises this summer focused on an expanded battlefield to prepare for threats posed by China and North Korea, a training officer said recently. 

The latest Red Flag exercise was the first to be combined with a Navy carrier strike group's pre-deployment workup off Southern California.