Turkish forces participate in joint exercise with Italy, U.S. at Nevada air base

ANKARA

DHA Photo

Turkish forces have conducted a joint air combat training exercise with allied Italian and American forces at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, the Turkish General Staff announced on March 14.

Red Flag 2016, a realistic combat training exercise involving the air, space, and cyber forces of the U.S. and its allies, including Turkey, ran from Feb. 29 to March 11 in Nevada.

According to an article posted on the official website of the Nellis Air Force Base, established in 1975 as one of the initiatives directed by General Robert J. Dixon, then commander of the Tactical Air Command, the Red Flag exercise’s original intent was to maximize the combat readiness, capability and survivability of participating units by providing realistic training in air-to-air combat. It has since grown to include ground, space and electronic threats, while also providing a forum for a free exchange of ideas between forces.

Various missions required by scenarios which included strategic attack and combat-search-and-rescue were fulfilled successfully during the joint exercise, the Turkish General Staff said. The role of mission command was held together with other participant countries on a rotating basis, it noted. The Turkish General Staff didn’t provide the number of its aircrafts and pilots who joined the exercise. 

An article by daily Las Vegas Review Journal last week said, in all, 76 aircraft from 16 U.S. and coalition units were participating in the exercise.