An Israeli Air Force pilot prepares an F-35I Adir for takeoff prior to a Red Flag-Nellis 23-2 mission at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, March 15, 2023 (Airman 1st Class Trevor Bell)
Last week, the skies over Las Vegas witnessed a high-stakes, international aerial showdown as the two-week long Red Flag exercise wrapped up at the NELLIS Air Force Base.
Spearheaded by the United States Air Force, this multinational military fiesta featured a debut performance by the Israeli Air Force's stealth fighters.
In an adrenaline-fueled two weeks, the Israeli team threw in seven Adir (F-35i) aircraft, also known as the "Mighty", and two "Ram" (Boeing 707) planes, which can translate to "Oryx" or "Buffalo".
The exercise demanded six months of rigorous preparation and was the first time Israel's elite pilots showcased their stealth prowess in an event of this scale.
The Israeli crew wasn't just a bunch of hotshot pilots, though. About 200 aircrew members, technicians, and controllers from various squadrons, including the 140th "Golden Eagle", 116th "Lions of the South", 103rd "The Elephants", 131st "Knights of the Yellowbird", and the 120th "Desert Giants" also joined in the high-flying action.
Red Flag threw everything it had at the participating teams, pushing them to their limits with intricate, often mind-boggling operational scenarios. From deep strategic attacks to air superiority showdowns, joint attack flights, surface cell defense, enemy aircraft interception, low-altitude flying, and attacking unfamiliar, anti-aircraft-protected terrain, it was a full-throttle adrenaline rush. The teams even got to practice some tight aerial refueling maneuvers.
The Israeli Mission commander couldn't contain his pride, gushing about how the exercise not only demonstrated their operational might, but also fostered strong bonds among the international forces. "We represented the State of Israel, the IDF, and the IAF with honor and brought excellent results. The Mighty Array and the Ram Array are in much better readiness for combat or any operational challenge."