China specific , USAF 65th Aggressor Squadron reactivates at Nellis with aggressor force of F-35s !

It's official now ! The U.S. Air Force 65th  Aggressor Squadron reactivated with a directed mission to know, teach and replicate fifth-generation air adversaries at Nellis Air Force Base. 

First ever camouflaged  F-35A Lightning II assets are here , the first two aircraft to be assigned to the unit have been revealed, aimed at Chinese J-20 and Russian Su-57, the mimicking aggressor paint scheme makes use of existing radar-absorbent coatings.

• The 65th Aggressor Squadron was reactivated at Nellis AFB to “know, teach and replicate fifth-generation air adversaries” .
• The unit will exclusively fly the F-35A and replicate the advanced airpower capabilities that are emerging from China.
• First ever camouflaged F-35 aggressor aircraft using the splinter camo seen on Chinese J-20.
• F-15 Eagles from 2005 to 2014 were in the similar role , F-16 Fighting Falcons  with 64th AGRS continued after that.

Air Combat Command commander Gen. Mark Kelly flew his F-15E Strike Eagle against the unit’s first assigned F-35 and newest commander, Lt. Col. Brandon Nauta, immediately prior to the ceremony.

“Due to the growing threat posed by PRC fifth- and sixth-gen fighter development, we must use a portion of our daily fifth-generation aircraft today at Langley, Elmendorf, Hill, Eielson, and now Nellis, to replicate adversary fifth-generation capabilities,” Kelly said.

“Precisely because we have this credible threat, when we do replicate a fifth-gen adversary, it has to be done professionally. That's the Aggressors.”

In 2019, the then-Air Combat Command commander and Secretary of the Air Force approved the activation to improve training for fifth-generation fighter tactics development, advanced large force training and operational test support. The decision underwent compliance with the National Environmental and Policy Act and other regulatory and planning processes.

The 65th AGRS was previously active at Nellis from 2005 to 2014. During that time, the unit replicated tactics and techniques of potential adversaries with a fleet of F-15 Eagles. When they inactivated, the 64th AGRS continued the aggressor mission with F-16 Fighting Falcons. 

“This significant milestone marks our ability to bring fifth-generation capabilities to the high-end fight, and will allow us to enhance our premier tactics and training with joint, allied and coalition forces,” said Brig. Gen. Michael Drowley, 57th Wing commander. 

The aggressor program began in the 1970s to provide pilots the opportunity to train against a U.S. aggressor force that replicated advanced and credible adversary tactics. Since then, the adversary capabilities have improved significantly and so did the need to replicate these threats.

“Using the F-35 as an aggressor allows pilots to train against low-observable threats similar to what adversaries are developing,” said Col. Scott Mills, 57th Operations Group commander.

For the first time during Red Flag-Nellis 21-3, the 57th Operations Group introduced dedicated F-35 aggressors to expand upon the F-16 Fighting Falcon aggressors assigned to the 64th AGRS.

“Working in concert with the 64th Aggressor Squadron, the F-35 aggressors dismantled significant components of the Blue Air game plan and ensured that our combat forces had to work hard for every win,” said Mills.

The F-35s will be employed into large Combat Air Forces exercises, U.S. Air Force Weapons School missions, joint exercises, and operational test and evaluation events that are only conducted at Nellis Air Force Base and the Nevada Test and Training Range.

Nellis and Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska are the only two bases in the Air Force to feature in-house aggressor squadrons for USAF , both currently with F-16C/D assets .

“Our message to our joint, allied and coalition forces is simple: come to Nellis to fight. The aggressors are ready, and our mission is to ensure you are too,” said Mills.

Source : 57th Wing Public Affairs.