The Royal New Zealand Air Force is testing its ability to operate in austere environments by returning to an annual United States Air Force exercise in the skies above Alaska this month.

RNZAF No. 40 Squadron personnel and their C-130H Hercules are attending Exercise Red Flag-Alaska 23-1, which is being held at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, just outside of Anchorage.

The exercise is designed to develop crews' proficiency in conducting advanced tactical flying missions in austere environments in preparation for operations.

'Exercise Red Flag aims to maximise combat readiness, capability and survivability by providing aircrews with realistic training in a combined air and ground threat environment,” says Detachment Commander Squadron Leader Kendall Dooley.

RNZAF Sergeant Darren Matheson, right, and Flight Lieutenant Andrew Sledger, aircrew on a C-130 Hercules, conduct a familiarisation flight over the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, during Exercise Red Flag.

Training will include threat evasion, airdrops, landing and taking off from semi-prepared strips, escort co-ordination, air combat and Airborne Early Warning and Control integration.

It is the first time since 2018 that the RNZAF has been able to attend the exercise because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

'It's great to be back working with our partners on high-quality training. It really helps increase our readiness and response capabilities. The training also helps us build interoperability and execute complex and realistic operations with our military partners.”

RNZAF Flight Sergeant Nathan Hodges, a loadmaster, conducts a pre-flight inspection before a familiarisation flight on a C-130 Hercules, during Exercise Red Flag at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.

RNZAF Sergeant Dion Joblin, a loadmaster, hangs a New Zealand flag before a familiarisation flight on a C-130 Hercules, during Exercise Red Flag at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska.