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General Mark Kelly has signed Commander of Air Combat Command (COMACC) Plan 21 effectively formalising the 53rd Wing’s Large Force Test Events into “Black Flag” – an event solely focused on test and tactics development in a realistic, massed force, fully integrated, high threat density environment.
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Established as the test counterpart to Red Flag, an event designed to train like we fight, Black Flag allows the Air Force to test like we fight - while Red Flag builds readiness, Black Flag builds capability.
Black Flag allows for multiple areas of test and tactics development to be executed in a singular event, while also creating an environment to adequately test and validate Tactics Improvement Proposals put forth by senior leaders at the annual Weapons and Tactics Conference, or WEPTAC, ultimately ensuring the warfighter has the most advanced and lethal tactics when they need them.
Lieutenant Colonel Mike Benitez, 53rd Wing director of staff and Black Flag lead project officer explained, “As a venue for innovation through integration, Black Flag is ultimately a deep-end testing arena to create and discover capabilities utilising existing and emerging materiel. Black Flag’s largest benefit is that it’s a tactical initiative with strategic impact. Warfighters know that innovation happens at the intersection of weapons and tactics – where integration occurs.”
Colonel Ryan Messer, 53rd Wing commander added, “Black Flag is essential to national defence. Instituting a flag-level exercise is the result of both the dedication of professionals in the 53rd Wing and also the support of senior leaders who acknowledge the importance of, and are investing in, testing like we fight.”
Though COMACC Plan 21 formalises Black Flag, the concept itself is not new. Operational testers have long been tasked with testing in a realistic, mass-forced environment.
The 53rd Wing proved the effectiveness of the Black Flag concept through recent large force test events in August and November.
As the operational test and tactics development-focused flag event, Black Flag completes a test triad alongside Orange and Emerald Flag.
By definition from COMACC Plan 21, aims to establish: “Black Flag, the world’s premier large force tactics and integration test event, will enable the CAF to 1) innovate through deep-end test integration to discover new capabilities and synergies of fighter, bomber, ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance) and classified programs that create multiple dilemmas for the adversary, 2) satisfy AFI/AFMAN testing mandates, 3) add relevancy and accountability to ACC Weapons and Tactics Conference (WEPTAC), 4) foster a culture of ‘Test Like We Fight’ that complements ‘Train Like We Fight’ and 5) produce strategic impacts for Joint All-Domain Operations (JADO) and the NDS (National Defense Strategy).”
General Mark Kelly added, “Black Flag accelerates months of work and combines it into a high-end, large force testing event. Because combat is large force employment, test must also include large force employment.”
The 53rd Wing provides tactical advantage to the warfighter at the speed of relevance.
By testing new, operational capabilities, evaluating fielded capabilities and optimising electronic warfare capabilities, the 53rd Wing is bringing the future faster while answering the warfighter’s demands for integrated, multi-domain capabilities.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
