{"id":30548,"date":"2020-01-13T20:50:46","date_gmt":"2020-01-13T20:50:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2020\/01\/13\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\/"},"modified":"2026-08-07T22:30:46","modified_gmt":"2026-08-07T22:30:46","slug":"red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2020\/01\/13\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\/","title":{"rendered":"\u2018Red Air\u2019 providers prep for a big year of war games"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">WASHINGTON \u2014 Last year,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.defensenews.com\/digital-show-dailies\/itsec\/2019\/12\/03\/the-us-air-force-wants-to-network-all-its-weapons-together-will-simulators-be-included\/\" target=_blank> the Air Force tapped seven defense companies<\/a> for a $6.4 billion opportunity for \u201cRed Air\u201d training where contracted pilots <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2019\/05\/20\/air-force-trains-to-defeat-enemy-air-defenses-50-miles-south-of-the-arctic-circle\/\" target=_blank>pose as aggressors in air-to-air combat<\/a>. With the fiscal 2020 budget finally approved, those firms are hungry to hear for more information about when and where they start flying.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The companies \u2014 Air USA Inc., Airborne Tactical Advantage Company (ATAC), Blue Air Training, Coastal Defense, Draken International, Tactical Air Support and Top Aces Corp. \u2014 currently find themselves waiting for the next phase of the competition, when the Air Force will issue individual work orders for a total of 22 bases that will allow contractors to begin flying this year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cI think we\u2019ve all watched the Air Force program develop over the last two years kind of in awe at the size of it and the ambition, the commitment they\u2019re making to have enough adversaries out there to challenge their pilots,\u201d said Russ Bartlett, CEO of Textron Airborne Solutions, which is the parent company of ATAC. \u201cThat\u2019s great for industry, because the Air Force knows they need to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\t<aside class=\"smg-interstitial-link wp-block-smg-interstitial-link\">\n\t\t<a href=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/digital-show-dailies\/2019\/03\/06\/air-forces-new-trainer-jet-could-become-its-next-light-attack-or-aggressor-aircraft\/\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__inner\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__media\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/Two-Boeing-T-X-jets-PUBLIC.jpg.jpg?w=300\" class=\"smg-interstitial-link__image wp-post-image\" alt=\"\" \/>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"smg-interstitial-link__content\">\n\t\t\t\t<span class=\"smg-interstitial-link__kicker\">Related<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t<h3 class=\"smg-interstitial-link__title\">US Air Force\u2019s new trainer jet could become its next light-attack or aggressor aircraft<\/h3>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p class=\"smg-interstitial-link__excerpt\">Now that the Air Force has chosen its new jet trainer, it&#039;s looking at whether the T-X can fill requirements outside the training mission.<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/a>\n\t<\/aside>\n\t\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Unlike major programs for weapon systems, which have a dedicated line item in the budget, the work orders for adversary air services will be paid out of the operations and maintenance account, which is more flexible. While the Air Force\u2019s FY20 budget request flags a $151 million increase for \u201ccontract air training,\u201d it\u2019s unclear how much of that amount will ultimately be set aside for that adversary air services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It <a href=\"https:\/\/www.airforcetimes.com\/news\/your-air-force\/2018\/09\/16\/acc-plans-to-be-training-more-then-training-better\/\" target=\"_blank\">will be up to Air Combat Command<\/a> \u201cto decide how much money they\u2019re going to put against the adversary air budget. So we\u2019re really just waiting to figure out how that all works,\u201d said Russ Quinn, president of Top Aces. \u201cWe and the program office are looking very forward to hearing how Air Combat Command is planning on funding the contract.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Draken International is already conducting aggressor flights at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., as part of a five-year contract awarded in 2018. That work is helping the company keep its Red Air planes ready ahead of work at other bases, said Sean Gustafson, Draken\u2019s vice president of business development.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">&#8220;We&#8217;re flying 6,000 to 7,000 hours a year out there right now,\u201d he said. \u201cWe\u2019re excited for the task orders to come out shortly, looking to expand and set up operations on the East Coast and then supporting those bases.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Draken pilots, who currently fly the Aero Vodochody L-159E Honey Badger and Douglas A-4 Skyhawk, regularly deploy from Nellis AFB and visit other installations, including Hill AFB in Utah, Eglin AFB in Fla., and Holloman AFB in N.M.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company will begin adding Mirage F1s to the mix next month, Gustafson said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re very excited about that, because that will be the first radar-equipped, supersonic aircraft in the industry. We have the first three [of 24 total] going out there in February,\u201d he said. The company has also purchased 12 radar- equipped, supersonic Atlas Cheetah fighters that will help cover Air Force requirements outside of Nellis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Meanwhile, the other companies are doing training and modifications necessary to get their aggressor fleets ready to fly whenever the U.S. Air Force decides it needs those planes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Top Aces has purchased 29 used F-16s from an undisclosed user specifically for the Air Force\u2019s adversary air contract. Those aircraft are not yet in the United States, but Quinn is confident that the company will have the aircraft in hand in early spring, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">After that, Top Aces will begin modifying each jet with an open architecture system that will allow the company to more easily outfit the aircraft with a range of radar, sensors, electronic warfare pods or other technologies that increase the capability of Red Air forces, he said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Depending on whether the company wins a contract with Germany for adversary air services, it may also have excess capacity with its Douglas A-4N Skyhawk fleet, which it could also offer to help supplement the U.S. Air Force\u2019s needs, Quinn said.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">ATAC plans to use its new fleet of Mirage F1 jets to meet the Air Force\u2019s requirements. So far, the company has fully trained one F1 pilot, who flew the first ATAC Mirage in August. Another two pilots were set to begin training in December, Bartlett said late last year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1200\" height=\"628\" src=\"\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20180619_FLP_DN_08.JPG.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-4467\" srcset=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20180619_FLP_DN_08.JPG.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20180619_FLP_DN_08.JPG.jpg?resize=300,157 300w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20180619_FLP_DN_08.JPG.jpg?resize=768,402 768w, https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/20180619_FLP_DN_08.JPG.jpg?resize=1024,536 1024w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1200px) 100vw, 1200px\" \/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Military students stand by Mirage F1 fighting jets at the mid ranking Air Force officers&#8217; school, &#8220;Ecole de formation des sous-officiers de larmee de lair (EFSOAA)&#8221;, before French President&#8217;s visit marking the school&#8217;s 40th anniversary at the French Air Force base 721 Rochefort in Saint-Agnant on June 14, 2018. Ludovic Marin\/AFP\/Getty Images)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cOn the airplane side, we\u2019re in really good shape. Sixty-three airplanes is a huge win for us. There are a lot of economies of scale that we intend to capitalize on,\u201d he said. \u201cThe challenge is going to be \u2014 of course \u2014 hiring and retaining pilots. The services are trying keep their pilots and grow their pilot cadres; the airlines are hiring aggressively and paying lucrative salaries, and this industry is growing by leaps and bounds with just this Air Force program.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">So far, recruiting pilots has not been a problem for Draken, Gustafson said. The company has employed 52 aggressor pilots to meet the demands of its contract with Nellis, and has a \u201cstack of resumes\u201d from pilots that jobs as the company expands to other bases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe\u2019re doing well on [hiring],\u201d he said. \u201cSome folks, they don\u2019t want to go to the airlines. They recently retired from the military and they want to keep flying fighters.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The company is looking to grow its fleet with new aircraft, as well, he added.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cWe should have some pretty exciting news about five to six months from now,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last October, the Air Force chose seven companies to provide adversary air services to more than 20 bases. But what&#8217;s happening now?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":66493,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":7,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":{"4":{"categories":["your-air-force","news","left-column","home","daily-news-roundup","newsletters"],"primary_category":"your-air-force"}}},"categories":[7,160,12,36,26,164],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3384],"class_list":["post-30548","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air","category-daily-news-roundup","category-industry","category-newsletters","category-training-sim","category-training-simulation-report"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"J3ARFZT6PBBWHC3Q4CQ65U35DI","arc_canonical_url":"\/air\/2020\/01\/13\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v26.0 (Yoast SEO v28.1) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u2018Red Air\u2019 providers prep for a big year of war games - Defense News<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Last October, the Air Force chose seven companies to provide adversary air services to more than 20 bases. 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But what&#039;s happening now?\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/air\/2020\/01\/13\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Defense News\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2020-01-13T20:50:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-08-07T22:30:46+00:00\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Valerie Insinna\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Valerie Insinna\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"5 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\n\t    \"@context\": \"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\n\t    \"@graph\": [\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"Article\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/13\\\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\\\/#article\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/13\\\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"author\": {\n\t                \"name\": \"migration\",\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/cc76c831bb37a926738c8391fca7a3b1\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"headline\": \"\u2018Red Air\u2019 providers prep for a big year of war games\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2020-01-13T20:50:46+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-07T22:30:46+00:00\",\n\t            \"mainEntityOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/13\\\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\\\/\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"wordCount\": 984,\n\t            \"commentCount\": 0,\n\t            \"publisher\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#organization\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/13\\\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/5873615.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"articleSection\": [\n\t                \"Air Warfare\",\n\t                \"Daily News Roundup\",\n\t                \"Industry\",\n\t                \"Newsletters\",\n\t                \"Training &amp; Sim\",\n\t                \"Training &amp; Simulation Report\"\n\t            ],\n\t            \"inLanguage\": \"en-US\",\n\t            \"potentialAction\": [\n\t                {\n\t                    \"@type\": \"CommentAction\",\n\t                    \"name\": \"Comment\",\n\t                    \"target\": [\n\t                        \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/13\\\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\\\/#respond\"\n\t                    ]\n\t                }\n\t            ]\n\t        },\n\t        {\n\t            \"@type\": \"WebPage\",\n\t            \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/13\\\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\\\/\",\n\t            \"url\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/13\\\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\\\/\",\n\t            \"name\": \"\u2018Red Air\u2019 providers prep for a big year of war games - Defense News\",\n\t            \"isPartOf\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/#website\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"primaryImageOfPage\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/13\\\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"image\": {\n\t                \"@id\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/defensenews\\\/air\\\/2020\\\/01\\\/13\\\/red-air-providers-prep-for-a-big-year\\\/#primaryimage\"\n\t            },\n\t            \"thumbnailUrl\": \"https:\\\/\\\/one.sightlinemg.com\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2026\\\/08\\\/5873615.jpg.jpg\",\n\t            \"datePublished\": \"2020-01-13T20:50:46+00:00\",\n\t            \"dateModified\": \"2026-08-07T22:30:46+00:00\",\n\t            \"description\": \"Last October, the Air Force chose seven companies to provide adversary air services to more than 20 bases. 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