You can almost hear “The Ride of the Valkyries” as these Alaska-based 18th AGRS F-16s form up prior to a merge. (Photo by U.S. Air Force/TSgt James RENTAL Harper Jr.) The USAF’s BAD Contract Killers

GUYS BY BRICK EISEL ill the F-16, right-hand turn, 18 thousand feet, over the Farms.” And so another victory is claimed in the perpetual “Kwar occurring in the skies north of Las Vegas. It is not part of some separating-a-tourist-from-his-money air- combat experience but the deadly game of “good guy” Blue Air jets fighting the “bad guy” Red Air forces of a professional adversary-for- hire serving the needs of America’s military.

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Combat Training Is Expensive but Necessary While “speed is life” is another cliché that directly relates Some automotive writers have said, tongue in cheek, that to dogfighting, it isn’t everything. Tactics, practice, and the fastest car in the world is good equipment are other vital components in keeping an airport rental car due to the sharp end of the spear pointy. the indifference toward said car by most of its drivers. The same cannot be said, however, when it comes to renting a professional “bad guy” to train an air force in modern air combat. While “speed is life” is another cliché that directly relates to dogfighting, it isn’t everything. Tactics, practice, and good equipment are other vital components in keeping the sharp end of the spear pointy. However, the costs of buy- ing and maintaining good equipment and zealously practicing said tactics continue to skyrocket (pun intended). For the U.S. Department of Defense as well those for other Kevin “Flash” Gor- don, the commander Western nations, those escalat- of the Nellis AFB ing costs result in drastic cuts 64th AGRS, during in the numbers and types of his days as a “MiG-1.” (Photo courtesy of combat aircraft, including Kevin Gordon) those dedicated to providing realistic, thinking adversary training to fighter pilots who might face the real thing one day. Following the Vietnam conflict, the U.S. Air Force (USAF) and Navy studied the problems their pilots faced flying against what should have been considered a “second-string” adver- sary: the Vietnam People’s Air Force (VPAF). The VPAF, however, gave a good accounting of itself by reaching parity of kills to losses during some periods of the war—the final kill ratio of USAF/VPAF being 2:1 versus a claimed 12:1 U.S. kills/losses during World War II and about 8:1 in Korea. Practice Is the Name of the Combat Game One of many lessons learned from that sobering statistic was the need for the good guys to prac- tice against a force that could realistically simu- late the most likely adversaries the might face in future conflicts. The Air Force formed “the Aggressors,” which by the mid- 1980s included squadrons of specially trained pilots flying the light, nimble Northrop F-5. A ramp full of Draken’s ex-New Zealand Air Force A-4Ks. (Photo by Jose M. Ramos) The Aggressors lived, breathed, and flew expected Soviet-style tactics and maneuvers. By studying the latest intelligence reports, inter-

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Stick forward, houses get bigger. Here, an L-159 screams down vertically. (Photo by Jose M. Ramos)

viewing other nations’ pilots who flew against to-air and air-to-ground missions. Those sorties The small, compact size of Soviet-trained proxy clients, and constantly simply can’t be filled by the Aggressor forces the A-4K is illustrated, along practicing such tactics, the USAF built a robust, wearing a uniform. The annual dollar amount with showing the engineering challenge of shoehorning a highly effective simulated “enemy” force. The estimated to fill this shortfall is in the range of modern APG-66 into adversaries trained American and other Allied $400 million per year. Despite the staggering the Scooter’s tiny nose. The forces in Europe, the Pacific, and the birthplace dollar amount, it is still less expensive to rent A-4 is a worthy adversary. (Photo by Ted Carlson/ of the Aggressors: at , the service than buy more military jets and hire fotodynamics.net) Nevada, home of the famous Red Flag exercises. people for only a training role. Being an Aggressor pilot was a highly coveted mark of professional excellence within the Aggressors for Hire unforgiving world of military aviation. It still Numerous companies formed to fill the need is today. (see sidebar on page 42). To meet the require- Then the Soviet Union collapsed and defense ment of providing high-performance aircraft budgets fell as well. One casualty of the cuts was capable of simulating any expected adversary, the deactivation of those Aggressor units in these companies scoured the world for retired Europe and the Pacific. Only Nellis’s 64th Aggres­ or surplus fighters and attack aircraft. Indeed, sor squadron (64 AGRS) remained. Unfortu­ one military aircraft manufacturer is offering nately, the expected peace among mankind its current fighter as a solution to this particular didn’t remain, and today, the world remains a problem. dangerous place. Reconstituting a much larger The civilian-owned aircraft aren’t just part of professional Aggressor force was deemed too the warbird airshow circuit. They are, in fact, expensive after the military drawdown. An addi­ small air forces complete with squadrons of tional squadron, the 18th AGRS, was formed in pilots, maintenance professionals, and the Alaska, but today, only the two squadrons, flying support staff required to operate such a fleet. the oldest F-16s in the Air Force’s inventory, are Although under stringent military and Federal expected to meet the training needs of not only Aviation Administration (FAA) rules, they also the USAF but also many allies. Buying, operating, aren’t neutered, demilitarized aircraft. They and maintaining an active-duty fighter squadron have potent onboard , can—and do—drop isn’t inexpensive. Necessity, therefore, opened up some commercial business opportunities. Buying, operating, and maintaining In a recent speech, a senior Air Force general an active-duty fighter squadron isn’t noted that the need for a larger, dedicated Adversary Air capability is only going to inexpensive. Necessity, therefore, increase. Thousands of sorties to train today’s opened up some commercial business young tigers are desperately needed in both air- opportunities.

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A fine side view of the “family ordnance, and operate in the swirling mix of Europe are also entering the competitive adver- “When it’s a big mission and the 64th is part model” of the A-4K. (Photo by One (but not the only) such company is dogfights with current military jets. sary market. of the Red side, they lead the mission as MiG Jose M. Ramos) Draken International. Although it is based One (but not the only) such company is One. We attend the mass brief where both sides, Draken International. Although it is based in It’s a Formal, Regimented Operation Blue and Red, discuss the overall mission— in Florida, it has detachments across Florida, it has detachments across the country Kevin “Flash” Gordon is a Draken pilot and weather, NOTAMS, airspace, frequencies—all the the country and with other nations. With and with other nations. With equipment rang- representative of the small yet growing field of admin stuff. Then the Red Air side breaks off for equipment ranging from subsonic ground ing from subsonic ground attack jets to super- professional commercial adversary-air business. their own briefing, and we discuss the training sonic fighters, Draken works with clients around The former commander of the 64th AGRS, objectives desired and the tactics and equipment attack jets to supersonic fighters, Draken the world. Other companies operate equipment Gordon brings thousands of hours of F-16 we are supposed to be emulating. We present works with clients around the world. ranging from turboprop light attack aircraft as experience to the problem, teaching combat different ‘looks’ to the other side, depending on well as former military fighters. One company, skills to less-experienced aircrews. Those hours what they are training against. F-15s, which were practicing a defensive Airborne Tactical Advantage Company, also would have been lost to training the next gen- “We aren’t just ‘unthinking’ training aides, counter-air mission. In other words, the “good provides instruction to national air forces using eration if he’d gone to the airlines. however. Our job—both the active-duty Aggres- guys” had to defend their turf against the Red the clients’ Sukhoi Su-27 and Lockheed Martin’s Says Gordon, “Sure, I could be making more sors and those supporting them—is to replicate Air bombing their flag on the ground. F-16. Companies in the United Kingdom and money if I’d gone airline and been with them what an adversary might be expected to do. For 30 furious minutes, the 22 jets swirled over for several years, but that kind of flying isn’t for Different countries fly different equipment and the bleak, brown desert landscape of the Nevada “Sure, I could be making more money if me. Nothing wrong with it and I’m not knock- operate differently tactically, and we have to be Test and Training Range (NTTR) from low level I’d gone airline and been with them for ing it, but flying the A-4K and the L-159 here at able to handle all those different facets. to way up high. Although Red Air took many Nellis lets me still fly fastand help train the new “From there, we suit up and step to the jets, losses, an A-4K eventually did get through to call several years, but that kind of flying isn’t guys coming along. That means a lot to me.” take off, and head to the airspace.” “bombs away” over the target. So despite the for me. Nothing wrong with it and I’m not As would be expected, a contract Red Air unit Blue Air forces killing many of the Red Air forces, knocking it, but flying the A-4K and the operates very much like the customers’ fighter Defend the Target! that one mistake deemed their mission a failure. unit. The pilots train in their jets, maintain FAA When interviewed, Gordon had just finished And that is exactly the point, as those failures L-159 here at Nellis lets me still fly fast currencies, study emerging tactics and weapon a mission where 16 Red Air—eight 64th AGRS lead to learning the lessons needed to ensure and help train the new guys coming along. systems, and interact nearly seamlessly with F-16s, four Draken A-4Ks, and four Draken that those mistakes don’t happen when the That means a lot to me.” their active-duty counterparts. L-159s—had gone against two F-22s and four bombs are real and the stakes are for keeps.

40 FlightJournal.com April 2018 41 RENTAL BAD GUYS Adversary Air Companies and Their Fleets

Draken International › Aero Vodochody L-159E ALCA › Aero L-39 Albatros › Douglas A-4K Skyhawk › Aermacchi MB-339CB › F1 › Atlas Cheetah (upgraded Mirage III)

Adversary Tactical Advantage Company › F-21 Kfir (different version of upgraded Mirage III) History of Adversary Aircraft Even the WW II Ever since humans began fighting with airplanes, they have Luftwaffe’s mark- › Dassault Mirage F1 studied the ways of the enemy to increase their chances of ings and paint scheme can’t dis- › Hawker Hunter Mk 58 survival and, ultimately, mission success. Today, national militaries guise the beautiful › Aero L-39 still study likely adversaries, still practice against what is believed lines of this cap- will be the likely threats, and strive to stay alive and successful. tured Supermarine Spitfire. All sides of Discovery Air Defence all wars evaluated World War II captured enemy › Douglas A-4 Skyhawk Germany had “Zirkus Rosarius.” Formed in 1943, it used captured aircraft and used › Dornier Alpha Jet Allied aircraft to teach Luftwaffe fighter pilots the best way them to train their pilots in fighting › IAI Westwind 1124 to defeat the growing hordes of American heavy bombers and them. (Photo cour- fighters as well as the night bomber force of the Royal Air Force tesy of Wikimedia (RAF). With flying examples of aircraft ranging from P-38s, P-51s, Commons) Saab and Spitfires to B-24s and › Saab Gripen Aggressor On another mission, Gordon was flying low I was definitely offensive when I hit that limit. Just as a war can—and usually B-17s, the “Circus” used in the L-159, nicknamed the “Honey Badger” “I turn for home and start my flow back to does—occur in bad weather, its resources to help the so too does the training for it. S3 International (looks innocent and slow, yet is ferocious in the Motherland after a successful mission on the Here, two 18th AGRS Vipers dwindling Luftwaffe forces a close fight), at the NTTR. Gordon says, “My Red side. Final score: one F-16 ‘killed,’ one target taxi under less-than-great Mil Mi-24 attack fight more effectively. › wingman and I were fragged to be the low- ‘destroyed,’ two offensive merges with Vipers— conditions. (Photo courtesy of The British had No. altitude strikers hitting a target defended by that’s a good day!” And more important, the F-16 the U.S. Air Force) 1426 Flight, nicknamed Weapons School F-16 students. We’re at 300 feet students learned some lessons for the next time. the “Rafwaffe,” to Postwar at about 400 knots and cruise in unobserved for operate and study During the Korean War, the Mikoyan-Gurevich MiG-15 nearly 50 miles and only about 20 miles until What Happened? Winners and captured German and also achieved “bogeyman” status. Heavy-hitting with the target. Losers Because… Italian aircraft. Like their 23mm and 37mm cannon, it took a fearsome toll on “It was then that I heard the radio call, A critical part of those lessons is the all-important counterparts in Germany, B-29s and on various Allied fighter-bombers. Finally, ‘Badger Two, you’re dead.’ Obviously, we weren’t debriefing following a mission. Just as the active- RAF pilots and scientists in 1953, a defector flew one to South Korea, where it quite so unobserved. I look up high at my duty crews do, Draken pilots go over any aircraft used nearly 70 various was flown by, among others, famed test pilot Chuck 10 o’clock and see the F-16 who’d just smoked problems with their maintenance personnel and Luftwaffe aircraft to learn Yeager. The secrets, good and bad, of the MiG-15 my wingman trying to find me. review their radar and sensor tapes to ensure how to best fight against were squeezed out and distributed to NATO pilots “I started a climbing conversion to at least that any simulated kills called or bombs dropped them and to design worldwide. negate any shots he might attempt so I can were valid. Then both Red and Blue forces gather countermeasures against During the rest of the Cold War, by means both surviveCaption and 5 press to the target. I merged with for the mass debriefing, where the mission is some of their advanced classified and by paying in cash, a secret unit of USAF him high-aspect (nearly nose-to-nose) and start replayed on a computer display that presents a electronic features, such pilots operated a squadron of Soviet aircraft. Starting a turn to get across his 6. god’s-eye view of the fight. as the airborne radars with MiG-17s and MiG-19s to the vaunted MiG-21, “I hit the training rule of no more than From the debriefing, both sides learn what used by German night fighters. which took such a toll of American jets in Vietnam, to nearly modern- 180 degrees of turn at low altitude, so I separate went right and what went wrong. Long gone are When they entered the war, the Americans also learned from era jets like the MiG-23/27, Sukhoi Su-22 and Su-27 fighters were for 5 miles, then turn back towards the target. the days of claiming a practice kill, and it being the British trove of captured aircraft. Probably the most famous flown by “The Red Eagles.” The unit flew the former Soviet fighters I’d climbed during the fight, so I duck back a case of “Yes, I did” versus “No, you didn’t.” example of studying the secrets of a captured enemy aircraft was to learn everything about them but also flew them in classified down to 300 feet AGL, do one last radar air-to- The data is gathered by the computer and laid the discovery of a crashed Mitsubishi A6M “Zero” in the Aleutian sessions against new American fighter pilots. For example, a new air sanitization of the target area before going out for all to see. But better to be embarrassed Islands in July 1942. Recovering and repairing the Zero to flyable F-15 pilot would be told to be at Point X at time Y. Upon arrival, he into air-to-ground mode, and I get lock on my in a debriefing than turn into a fireball in some condition, the military and the rapidly expanding aviation industry would be met by a MiG-21, where the fledgling F-15 pilot would fly nose for about 13 miles. future conflict where the stakes are the highest. wrung all the performance secrets from the near-mythical fighter, against the MiG until he learned it was not King Kong. This exposure “I take the shot and kill the F-16 point- And that is the point. Draken, along with discovering that the secret to its famed maneuverability came to “buck fever” of seeing one’s first MiG in the air was a vital part of defending the target, and I have an unimpeded other companies serving this small but growing at the cost of armor protection for the pilot and the fuel tanks. the Cold War training regimen. run into the target, simulate release, and call ‘Tar- industry, is a for-profit company. But Gordon It could dance, but it couldn’t take a punch. The aerodynamic In recent years, American and allied crews have flown openly get destroyed.’ I look up and I see another F-16 is representative of them when he says, “I still lessons were swiftly incorporated into war-winning fighters and against the latest MiG-29s and others as third-party nations, like trying to find me. I again turn to make it a high- want to contribute to the mission. This is my the tactics used with them. India, fly such equipment and participate in the many military aspect merge, yank hard to get on his 6, and way of doing so. And flying fighters is still cool, exercises held around the world. again hit the low-altitude training restriction, but so it’s a win-win.” J

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