By Any Other “Blue Four Is Dead
SSgt. Erick Vega, an avionics specialist, attempts to determine if his equipment was failing or if the space systems used by the F-16 were being attacked by simulated enemy forces during a Red Flag exercise in 2016. Airmen participate in the live, virtual, constructive portion at the CAOC during a Red Flag exercise at Nellis in 2015. Space forces first officially played in a Red Flag in 2011, with the first operational Blue cyber participation in 2013. In each year since, at least once during the four annual exercises, space and cyber warriors join the scrimmage along with the pilots, weapon systems operators, air battle managers, combat search and rescue crews, intelligence personnel, and maintainers employed in today’s modern air combat domain. Red Flag still evokes images Red Flag adversary forces today include not only the 64th Aggressor Squadron flying specially marked F-16s and the of aerial combat, but space 507th Air Defense Aggressor Squadron replicating near-peer SAM systems, but also the 57th Information Aggressor Squad- and cyber capabilities are Capt. Brian Goodman, an Aggressor flight commander, ron (IAS) and the 527th Space Aggressor Squadron (SAS). A Kill an increasingly important prepares to test a fighter squadron’s GPS capability without The Air Force Reserves’ 26th SAS and the Kansas Air National the squadron knowing, during a 2016 Red Flag mission. Guard’s 177th Information Warfare Aggressor Squadron aug- aspect of the training. ment the bad guy forces as well. sea, and in the air. Today, warriors of advanced nations, and The 57th IAS maps and mines the friendly Blue Force By Any Other “Blue Four is dead.
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