C-130s weave through mountains, perform dirt strip landings for RED FLAG 22-2
The 71st Rescue Squadron, from Moody Air Force Base, Georgia, and the 36th Airlift Squadron, from Yokota Air Base, Japan, held a series of sorties over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex in support of RED FLAG-Alaska 22-2, which included low-level maneuvers and dirt strip landings, June 17, 2022.
RF-Alaska 22-2, is a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored exercise, is scheduled to run from 9 June to 24 June with primary flight operations over the JPARC. RF-Alaska is designed to provide realistic training essential to the success of air and space operations in a simulated combat environment.
The 71st RS, flew HC-130J Combat King II sorties over the JPARC airspace, which covers more than 77,000 square miles, in a realistic training environment, training for full spectrum engagements, ranging from individual skills to complex, large-scale joint engagements.
U.S. Air Force Joint Terminal Attack Controllers supported airfield operations at Donnelly Training Area, Alaska, providing a unique opportunity to integrate various forces into joint, coalition and multilateral training from simulated forward operating bases.
RF-Alaska exercises provides unique opportunities to integrate various forces in a realistic threat environment and dates back to 1975, when it was called Exercise Cope Thunder and held at Clark Air Base, Philippines.
Approximately 1,600 service members are expected to fly, maintain and support more than 70 aircraft from 22 units during this iteration of the exercise. In addition to the U.S., service members from the Republic of Singapore Air Force are scheduled to participate, enabling the exchange of tactics, techniques and procedures while improving interoperability with fellow Airmen. The majority of aircraft will be based at, and fly from, Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.
