Aggressor Squadron Enhances Red Flag Ops: Air Force officials say the airmen of the 64th Aggressor Squadron, from Nellis AFB, Nev., performed up to expectations in their first engagement at the newly renamed Cope Thunder, now called Red Flag–Alaska. The addition of the aggressors make the exercise more closely resemble the original Red Flag, staged out of Nellis—and that was the “key driver” behind the whole idea, said Col. Terrence O’Shaughnessy, the 57th Adversary Tactics Group commander. He added that Eielson would get its own Aggressors at some point.
The Air Force displayed all the firepower it has amassed on Okinawa in an unusually diverse show of force this week. IIn a May 6 “Elephant Walk,” Kadena Air Base showcased 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighters, eight F-15E Strike Eagles; two U.S. Army Patriot anti-missile batteries near the runway; and…