The upcoming Red Flag exercise at Nellis AFB, Nev., will be the first time live intelligence gathering will factor directly into the large-force aerial combat event, announced Air Force Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance Agency officials. Since Red Flag’s beginnings in 1975, the exercise’s “intelligence had to be faked” ahead of time and fed to units as the exercise scenario played out, explained Maj. Christopher Keown, operations director for Nellis’ 526th Intelligence Squadron, in the agency’s Jan. 17 release. For Red Flag 13-3, which runs from Feb. 25 to March 15, AFISRA will directly participate to “produce scenarios that properly represent the enemy and ensure realistic intelligence can be collected and passed,” said Keown. Intelligence aircraft orbiting over the Nevada Test and Training Range will beam back live data for analysts to collate and pass to assets in the field, more closely simulating real-world integration in theater, according to the release. “The ability of ISR and combat forces to integrate in a collocated environment provides the best opportunity to prepare for tomorrow’s fight,” said Lt. Col. Christopher Reiz, 526th IS commander. (Lackland report by Wayne Amann)
Air Force Eyes New-Build F-16s to Boost Fighter Force
Sept. 16, 2026
The Air Force will consider acquiring new F-16 Fighting Falcon jets to answer capacity shortfalls in its aging fighter fleet, according to multiple people familiar with the matter. These discussions are happening as the Air Force is building its proposed fiscal 2028 budget and the five-year spending plan that goes…
