The 53rd Wing, in a groundbreaking move to bolster U.S. military readiness, has partnered with the U.S. Navy’s Air Test and Evaluation Squadron Nine (VX-9) for Exercise Black Flag 24-1, which took place in April 2024.
Black Flag is distinguished for its focus on operational testing, prioritizing the evaluation of new capabilities and tactics in the context of a multi-domain, multi-service, and operationally relevant environment.
Col. Daniel Lehoski, commander of the 53rd Wing, underscored the significance of the exercise, noting, “As a general trend, integration across both the joint force and our coalition partners is becoming increasingly important.”
The exercise saw premier Air Force and Navy weapon platforms engaging in over-water exercises, testing the latest in software and hardware developments expected to be integrated into the fleet. Capt. Matthew Davin, VX-9’s chief operational test director, emphasized the benefits of such rigorous testing, stating, “Getting our teams together to test in the most realistic environment possible is really core to what we do.”
With an eye toward countering long-range air-to-air threats and advancing electro-magnetic spectrum operations, the data collected during Black Flag 24-1 will undergo thorough analysis. The insights will be shared with partner squadrons, and ultimately, the U.S. Air Force Warfare Center and the Naval Air Warfare Development Center, ensuring a swift and effective dissemination of new tactics and techniques to the field.
Lehoski pointed out that while deterrence is the primary objective, readiness is essential if deterrence were to fail. He added, “It is our job to make sure we are delivering the tactics, techniques, and procedures the warfighter needs on night one.”
In the wake of Black Flag 24-1, the 53rd Wing is preparing for another first: a Virtual Black Flag (VBF) Large Force Test Event. This summer’s VBF will be a significant addition to the military’s testing arsenal, involving Navy, Army, and Space Force capabilities. This virtual environment is slated to enable testing objectives that cannot be achieved through regular flight operations, thus expanding the potential for more joint asset involvement and accelerating tactics development. Lehoski hailed the virtual environment as “a key component in our test enterprise.”
Relevant articles:
– Black Flag 24-1 concentrates on Joint Test Integration, setting the stage for Virtual Black Flag, 53rd Wing (.mil)