Three allies, 150 aircraft and 12,000 sq miles of clear skies: Ex Red Flag takes off in Nevada

Known as the world's toughest air combat training, Exercise Red flag has kicked off in the United States, bringing together 150 aircraft from three countries. 

The annual training simulates enemy fighter aircraft, land-to-air missiles and even spaced-based elements and cyber attacks. 

RAF personnel, from 51 Squadron, 19 Squadron and 20 Squadron, along with eight Typhoons and a Voyager aircraft, are participating in the exercise, running now until 14 February. 

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Exercise Red Flag was established in 1975 by the US after its loss in the Vietnam War. 

It takes place at the Nevada Test and Training Range (NTTR), which is one of two military training areas at the Nellis Air Force Base Complex in Nevada.

At 2.9 million acres, the NTTR is half the size of Wales – and the airspace available above the training area is almost triple that. 

Typhoons have 12,000 square miles of clear skies in which to practise combat drills.

Apart from the pilots, the exercise involves ground crews, maintenance personnel, intelligence specialists, and support staff from the UK, US and Australia. 

This year, Exercise Red Flag will see around 3,000 participants come together to whip the Typhoons into mission-ready shape. 

Altogether, there are 32 units from the USAF and Space Force, US Marine Corps, US Navy, Air National Guard, alongside the RAF, and Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF).

The UK's Air Force started participating two years after the exercise was first established. Meanwhile, Australia took part for the first time three years later, in 1980.