JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- RED FLAG-Alaska 23-1 is set to begin from Oct. 6 – 21, just a few days away.

Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson residents and the local community will see multiple aircraft with various color schemes of the C-130s and an E-3 Sentry parked at the runway.

The No. 40 Squadron from the Royal New Zealand Air Force and the No. 47 Squadron from the United Kingdom’s Royal Air Force C-130s, as well as NATO’s E-3A Airborne Warning and Control System are set to participate in this upcoming iteration.

“The Detachment 1 staff is excited to welcome Great Britain, New Zealand, and NATO to JBER for this iteration of RF-A,” said U.S. Air Force Maj. William Hock, RF-A 23-1 team lead. “We have worked closely with our allies to design and execute a large force exercise to advance joint and international interoperability.”

RNZAF Detachment Commander Squadron Leader Kendall Dooley echoed that this exercise is to increase combat readiness, capability, and survivability by providing aircrews training in a combined air and ground threat scenario.

RF-A offers a unique experience for participants of the field training exercise to participate in a simulated-combat environment, where pilots train against simulated aggressor squadrons, and ground operations are assessed on how quickly they can make aircraft mission-ready.

“The training also helps us build interoperability and execute complex and realistic operations with our military partner,” Dooley added. “It really helps to increase our readiness and response capabilities.”

All RF-A participants are divided into ‘Red’ defensive forces and ‘Blue’ offensive forces, while the ‘White’ forces represent the neutral controlling agency.

The ‘Red’ team includes ground-control intercept and surface air defense forces to simulate threats posed by potentially hostile nations. The ‘Blue’ team is a full spectrum of U.S. and allied tactical and support units to fight against any threats. ‘White’ ensures operations are conducted safely.

During this iteration of the exercise, about 1,000 service members are expected to fly, maintain and support more than 40 aircraft from over 15 units, all while exchanging tactics, techniques, and procedures aimed at improving interoperability between U.S. and allied partners.