Red Flag On A Global Stage

摘要

Three of the world's most powerful fighters have premiered at Red Flag. They are: India's Su-30MKI Flanker; the French Rafale; and South Korea's F-15K, the most advanced version of the Eagle. They were matched with and against operational F-15s and F-16s from USAF in two weeks of exercises meant first to practice large force-on-force battles and then a simulated air campaign. The airmen involved are still digesting what they learned at the August event, with all players emphasizing their own successes. |1| An Eglin AFB, Fla.-based F-15D gets a once over before launch. |2| Indian Air Force ground support personnel gear up a Flanker for a mission. India brought eight Su-30s, two II-78s-a tanker and an AWACS-type variant-and an II-76 Candid cargo aircraft. Prior to Red Flag, the IAF airmen "spun up" for a week at Mountain Home AFB, Idaho, getting accustomed to high altitudes and the dramatic terrain.