Türkiye rejoins US-led Red Flag air combat drills after 7-year absence

Türkiye will participate in the US-hosted Red Flag air combat exercise for the first time since 2016, marking its return to one of the world’s leading aerial warfare training programs.

Turkish Ministry of Defence confirmed the participation in a statement released on March 8, Caliber.Az reports referring to a Turkish newspaper.

According to the ministry, Türkiye will send five F-16 fighter jets and 73 military personnel to the Red Flag-2025 Joint Air Combat Exercise, which will be held from March 10 to March 21 at Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, United States. Turkish defence officials confirmed that both the F-16s and military personnel have already arrived in the US ahead of the drills.

This year’s participation marks Türkiye's eighth appearance in the prestigious exercise, which has been conducted annually since 1975. The Red Flag exercises are designed to provide realistic combat training, improve strategic planning, and enhance interoperability between US forces and allied nations. The program is conducted several times each year, with the sessions at Nellis Air Force Base known as Red Flag, and those held at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska referred to as Red Flag-Alaska.

Initially created in response to lessons learned during the Vietnam War, Red Flag has become a vital international training platform, preparing military personnel with advanced combat tactics. Over the past five decades, the exercise has trained more than 500,000 personnel and carried out over 420,000 sorties, reinforcing the combat readiness of allied air forces.

Turkey’s return to Red Flag follows a period of strained defence ties with Washington, particularly after its removal from the F-35 program in 2019 due to its purchase of the Russian S-400 missile defence systems. However, recent developments, including the U.S. approval of F-16 sales to Türkiye, suggest a potential shift toward stronger bilateral military cooperation.

Through its participation in this year's Red Flag exercise, Türkiye aims to enhance its operational capabilities, solidify alliances with NATO partners, and reaffirm its strategic role in global defence collaborations.

By Tamilla Hasanova