Royal Navy Pilots Train With US Counterparts

Royal Navy pilots in F-35B Lightning IIs joined RAF colleagues to test themselves against and alongside American flyers in California during Exercise Gray Flag.

As per a recent Royal Navy press statement, British flyers normally based at Edwards Air Force Base travelled to Naval Base Ventura County at Point Magu, just west of Los Angeles, to take part in Gray Flag late last year.

During two weeks in the air 600 sorties in 60 different tests were flown by U.S. and British pilots, with missions involving US F-35s, F/A-18 Super Hornets, C130s, an RAF Voyager for air-to-air refuelling, and a variety of uncrewed systems.

U.S. Navy surface ships also operated in the exercise area off the Californian coast making up part of the Point Magu ranges, which comprise some 36,000 square miles of air and sea space.

Men and women from 17 TES — a mixed RAF-Fleet Air Arm group — were flying the flag for the U.K. At Edwards they work alongside fellow F-35 users from the U.S. and Australia. Together this team develops tactics and tests sensors, software, and other equipment. 

"Our nation’s success in future conflicts depends on how well we can integrate and jointly operate with our allies and partners,” said Rear Admiral Keith Hash, Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD) Commander and Naval Air Systems Command’s Chief of Test.

“The CNO said it best in NAVPLAN 2024: The U.S. Navy fights in a warfighting ecosystem. As we continue to deter aggression and protect the freedom of the seas, we aren’t operating alone. We shouldn’t test alone either.”

• You can read more details on the Royal Navy website and on the U.S. Navy website