Air Force
Red Flag-Alaska exercise brings together international air forces
Stars and Stripes
June 6, 2026
A Royal New Zealand Air Force airman assigned to No. 40 Squadron sits on the loading ramp of a RNZAF C-130J Super Hercules at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 3, 2026. (Theodore Gowdy/U.S. Air Force)
Exercise Red Flag-Alaska 26-2 is bringing together more than 2,100 service members for air combat training at Eielson Air Force Base and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson in Alaska.
The exercise, which continues through June 12, replicates Indo-Pacific operational conditions and focuses on combined training with international partners and joint forces.
“This iteration focuses on strengthening partnerships by practicing operations together to improve response capabilities,” said Air Force Maj. Gregory Guiney, assistant director of operations for the 354th Operations Group Detachment 1.
Participants include the U.S. Air Force, U.S. Army, Royal Air Force, Royal New Zealand Air Force, Royal Canadian Air Force and Republic of Singapore Air Force. Aircrews and support personnel exchange tactics, techniques and procedures when executing mission sets.
The exercise integrates joint and coalition forces into a realistic threat environment across roughly 120,000 square miles of airspace in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex.
“The importance of this exercise is to build joint interoperability to project forces in the Indo-Pacific,” said Army Capt. Zachary Tarble, air officer assigned to the 2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team, 11th Airborne Division.
A U.S. Navy co-pilot for the EA-18G Growler, assigned to the Electronic Attack Squadron 138, signals their unit hand sign on the flightline at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 1, 2026. (Kentavist Brackin/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing from Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, departs the flightline at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 1, 2026. (Kentavist Brackin/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force pilot for the F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing from Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, gives their unit’s heritage hand sign on the flightline at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, June 1, 2026. (Kentavist Brackin/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 51st Fighter Wing from Osan Air Base, Republic of Korea, sits on the flightline at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 28, 2026. (Kentavist Brackin/U.S. Air Force)
A U.S. Army paratrooper adjusts his gear before boarding a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Super Hercules at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, June 3, 2026. (Theodore Gowdy/U.S. Air Force)
Royal New Zealand Air Force Sgt. Max Sands-Schrooder, a No. 40 Squadron air load master, relays information over the internal communications system of RNZAF C-130J Super Hercules aircraft flying within the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, June 3, 2026. (Theodore Gowdy/U.S. Air Force)
U.S. Army paratroopers discuss jump details aboard a Royal New Zealand Air Force C-130J Super Hercules over Alaska, June 3, 2026. (Theodore Gowdy/U.S. Air Force)
Royal New Zealand Air Force Sgt. Adam Wilson, a No. 40 Squadron air load master, looks out a fuselage window on a RNZAF C-130J Super Hercules aircraft flying in the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, June 3, 2026. (Theodore Gowdy/U.S. Air Force)