Canadian International Air Combat Exercise
Exercise MAPLE FLAG is a six-week international air combat exercise held annually at 4 Wing Cold Lake, Alberta. The exercise, which will be taking place from May 15 to June 24 2005, provides Canadian and allied aircrew with realistic training in a modern simulated air combat environment, and emphasizes air operations involving large package coalition forces.
More than 5,000 military personnel from 11 nations and a NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control (AWACS) contingent will participate in Exercise MAPLE FLAG XXXVIII. In addition, seven nations will observe the exercise as part of the International Observer Program (IOP) – a number unprecedented in the 27 years 4 Wing Cold Lake has hosted the exercise. The IOP provides observers with a clear overview of the exercise, and is often a precursor to flying participation.
Period 1: 15 May – 27 May
Period 2: 29 May – 10 June
Period 3: 12 June – 24 June
Maple Flag XXXVIII “Blue Air” Friendly Forces
The following forces are scheduled to participate in this year’s air combat exercise as “Blue Air.” They will deploy to provide conventional ground attack, air superiority, SEAD (suppression of enemy air defence), tactical resupply, reconnaissance, air-to-air refueling, and AWACS (airborne early warning and control):
Canadian Forces
Belgian Air Force
German Air Force
French Air Force
Israeli Air Force
NATO AWACS (airborne early warning and control contingent)
Royal Air Force
Royal Netherlands Air Force
Royal New Zealand Air Force
Republic of Singapore Air Force
Swedish Air Force
United States Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps
Maple Flag XXXVIII “Red Air” Opposing Forces
The following forces are scheduled to participate in this year’s coalition exercise as “Red Air.” They will deploy to provide air and ground threat:
14 CTS (United States Air Force)
64th AGRS (United States Air Force aggressor squadron)
266th Range Squadron (United States Air National Guard)
Maple Flag XXXVIII Observing Nations
The following nations are sending military members who will observe but not participate in the exercise:
Brazil
Argentina
Chile
Greece
Qatar
Singapore
United Arab Emirates
A number of different combat and combat support aircraft will be participating in this year’s exercise, including: Mirage F-1 and Mirage 2000N, F-15 Eagle and F-15E Strike Eagle, F-16 Fighting Falcon, CF-18 Hornet, EA-6B Prowler, Tornado GR4, B-1B Lancer, E-3 Sentry AWACS, Transall C-160, C-130 Hercules, B-707.
Mission
Exercise MAPLE FLAG provides important training for Canadian and allied fighter aircrews, as well as transport, electronic warfare, air refueling, air defence, and airborne early warning and control assets from many different nations.
During the exercise’s three two-week periods, international participants engage in a simulated, 10-day air campaign. Using the vast, unrestricted airspace and more than 640 targets of the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR), participants engage in daily missions that involve confronting and dealing with air- and ground-based threats.
The exercise promotes initiative and self-discipline in the air, and provides the opportunity for developing tactical and leadership skills. Working together to plan air combat missions and flying these missions in concert with aircraft from other nations fosters and strengthens the professional bonds forged between allied nations.
History
Exercise MAPLE FLAG is a Canadian variation of the United States Air Force RED FLAG Exercise, held several times a year at Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada. Both exercises were developed in response to a Vietnam War finding that 90 percent of aircraft losses took place during the first ten combat missions. Aircrew who survived these critical first ten missions were more likely to survive the remainder of their combat tour.
In order to enhance survivability and improve performance of aircrew, Exercise RED FLAG was created in 1975. Canadians first participated in RED FLAG in 1977 and a year later, the Canadian Commander of Air Command invited the United States Air Force to hold a northern RED FLAG in Cold Lake. The four-week exercise, named MAPLE FLAG, was a great success and was held by 4 Wing Cold Lake bi-annually thereafter until 1987.
Since 1987, exercise has been held during one six-week period each spring. MAPLE FLAG continues to be an internationally renowned exercise that provides training for large coalition operations in a structured, academic environment.
The Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR)
Exercise participants make use of the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR) during MAPLE FLAG. The CLAWR covers 1.17 million hectares (11,600 square km), and is the only tactical bombing range in Canada. Vast, unrestricted airspace with no civilian air traffic and more than 640 targets make it an attractive training area for allied air forces.
Large varieties of target types are located throughout the CLAWR, making it a dynamic and realistic training environment. These targets are built to resemble tanks, missile launchers, radar sites, industrial sites, command and control centres, and various types of vehicles and aircraft. Among the 100 target complexes within the CLAWR are the seven mock airfields. These airfield targets simulate complete aerodromes, and include runways, ramps, taxiways and dispersal areas. Buildings and ¾-scale airframes and vehicles also add to the realism and training efficacy of these mock aerodromes.
