Hundreds of military personnel from North America and abroad are gathered in the home of Canada's fighter pilot for a month of intricate air force training.
Exercise Maple Flag is the Royal Canadian Air Force's largest and most complex international training event of the year.
Held in Cold Lake, it will bring together up to 1,300 Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members in either participant or supporting roles. Over 400 personnel from six allied and partner nations will also be involved, including participants from the United States Air Force, the Royal Air Force, the German Army, and the Belgian Army.
“We are pleased to once again host Exercise Maple Flag in Cold Lake. The personnel of 4 Wing and CFB Cold Lake have been working hard over the past several months planning this incredible, fully immersive training opportunity for not only the Royal Canadian Air Force, but our international allies and partners,” said Col. Eric Kenny, Commander of 4 Wing Cold Lake.
Kenny added, “The outcomes of this exercise will undoubtedly provide those involved with the skills and expertise to operate effectively against any adversary.”
Variations of what is known today as Maple Flag have been taking place since 1977. The exercise was initially conceived as Exercise Red Flag North, the Canadian variation of the United States Air Force's Exercise Red Flag.
In 1978 it was renamed Exercise Maple Flag. For the ensuing 10 years, two four-week exercises were held annually. It then became an event lasting between four and six weeks.
Traditionally, the main focus of Maple Flag was fighter operations and supporting airframes. In recent years, it has begin to fuse with elements of concurrent exercises, such as the Canadian army-led Exercise Maple Resolve.
Maple Flag primarily takes place inside the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range (CLAWR). This unique airspace permits the use of a variety of simulated and live weapons systems, as well as supersonic flight.
Participants will use a fictitious scenario where they will fight against simulated threats using the latest tactics, weaponry, and technology. As close as it gets to the real thing, the exercise is designed for personnel to hone their skills within a realistic, evolving and challenging operating environment.
Maple Flag prepares both Canadian and international aircrew, maintenance, and support personnel for the rigours of operations in the modern aerial battle space. Exercises like this are designed to contribute to the operational readiness of the CAF so it can meet anticipated tasks that the Government of Canada could assign.
“Exercise Maple Flag is a direct contributor to the RCAF's success in generating world-class air power. This exercise is a great opportunity to enhance our agility, reach, and power, while integrating without domestic joint partners and allies,” said Maj-Gen. David Wheeler, Commander 1 Canadian Air Division.
In addition to the numerous personnel from across the globe, multiple aircrafts are also being brought in for training.
Canada is contributing CF-188 Hornet fighters, CH-146 Griffon helicopters, CP-140 Auroras, a CC-177 Globemaster III heavy lift aircraft, a CC-130 Hercules air-to-air refueling and transport aircraft, and contracted Dornier Alpha Jets.
The United States will be supplying a C-130 Hercules aircraft and an E-3 Sentry aircraft. From France, there will be a Mirage 2000-5 and Rafale fighter aircraft, and the United Kingdom will be bringing an E-3 Sentry aircraft.
The international event was cancelled last year due to Operations Impact and Reassurance. It was just the fourth time the event has been cancelled since starting in 1987. The other cancellations occurred in 1991 due to Gulf War I, during the Kosovo conflict in 1999, and in 2011 because of Operation Mobile.
This year's Exercise Maple Flag is being held over two periods of two weeks each from May 30 to June 10, and June 13 to 24.
