Canadian Exercise
Guys,
Got the following off the Milcom list---John, Ed might see some of the participants transiting through their areas.
More than 4500 local and visiting Canadian and International military
personnel are preparing for Exercise Maple Flag 42, to take place in Cold
Lake, Alberta from May 18 to June 12, 2009.
The exercise is divided into two periods, with Period One May 18-29, and
Period Two June 1-12. During each period Allied forces from Canada,
Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Republic of Singapore, the United
States, Great Britain, Australia and the NATO AWACS unit will engage in a
simulated air and ground campaign using the vast, unrestricted airspace of
Cold Lake and its Air Weapons Range as well as the Wainwright training
area for ground operations.
Period one will focus on Para deployments from US Marines Corps and Royal
Netherlands Air Force Hercules C130 J/H aircraft in support of Exercise
SPARTAN PEGASUS Para Assault carried out by A Company, 3 PPCLI on a Drop
Zone in the Wainwright Training Area. Staging and Embarkation will be from
4 Wing Cold Lake. The assault force will include Royal Netherlands Air
Defence Forces and German Forces. As well, period one will include other
transport and refuelling missions.
During period two, "Blue Air" Allied Forces from Canada, Germany, New
Zealand, Republic of Singapore, the United States, Great Britain, and NATO
Airborne Warning and Control System will engage in a simulated air
campaign using the vast, unrestricted airspace and more than 640 targets
of the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. Participants will confront air and
ground based threats against "Red Air" Opposing Forces from 64th USAF
Aggressor Squadron and the Top Aces.
The USAF RQ-4 Global Hawk will be participating for the first time at
Maple Flag. This long endurance, high altitude unmanned surveillance
aircraft will stage from its home base in California. The Australian E-7A
Wedgetail AWACS aircraft will also be participating in the exercise. The
E-7A AWACS is based on the 737 airframe.
As part of the Canadian Forces International Observes Program, MF 42 will
host observers from Chile, Egypt, India, Oman, Poland, Singapore; South
Africa, United Arab Emirates; and Ukraine.
Working together planning combat missions and flying these missions in
concert with aircraft from other nations fosters and strengthens the
professional bonds forged between allied nations. The exercise will
provide important training for Canadian and allied fighter aircrews, as
well as transport, electronic warfare, air refueling, air defence, special
forces and airborne early warning and control assets from many different
nations.
Official news releases on these exercises can be viewed at:
Maple Flag XLII Powers-up... | News Releases | News Room | 4 Wing Cold Lake | Air Force | DND/CF
Maple Flag XLII Media Days... | News Releases | News Room | 4 Wing Cold Lake | Air Force | DND/CF
As for monitoring aircraft movement in and out of Cold Lake, traditionally
a lot of aircraft have moved on "transition Saturdays". Therefore, expect
to see a lot of international and overseas movements to/from Cold Lake May
15 and 16, May 29 and 30, and June 12-13.
Regards,
Rob
Regina, Saskatchewan
