53rd Wing conducts first ever Virtual Black Flag

  • Published
  • By 1st Lt. Rebecca Abordo
  • 53rd Wing Public Affairs
EGLIN AIR FORCE BASE, Fla. -- The 53rd Wing executed the first iteration of Virtual Black Flag (VBF) Large Force Test Event at the Virtual Warfare Center in St. Louis with Navy, Army, Marine Corps, and Space Force partners in July 2024.

VBF is an operational test exercise utilizing simulators that focuses on completing test objectives that could not be accomplished via live flight operations during Black Flag. The goal of VBF is to develop operational tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), delivering proven combat capabilities faster to combatant commanders. 

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"The virtual environment allows us the opportunity to get around fundamental constraints caused by airspace restrictions, operational security challenges and threat replication,” said Col. Daniel Lehoski, 53rd Wing commander. “The virtual space gives us the ability to scale our data set in ways we just can’t manage in live flying."

This iteration of VBF exercised long range air-to-air and air-to-ground kill chains. VBF is focused on utilizing future systems and weapons without the impacts from real-world demands.

“VBF is a trailblazing event!” said Lt. Col. Prichard Keely, VBF Test Director. “We are focusing on how command and control integrates with the intelligence community to complete the long range kill chain. This community effort is absolutely critical to delivering TTPs to the warfighter at the speed of relevance.”

Testing TTPs in the virtual space allows for completion of more testing in a shorter period of time. The virtual environment’s mission data capture allows for improved test design, and the virtual center enables improved test management during the event due to rapid closed loop debriefs and real time observation by engineers and analysts of all aspects of the test event.

“Virtual Black Flag demonstrated effective integration of joint capabilities to complete friendly long-range kill chains while defeating those of an adversary,” said William Dries, Headquarters Air Force Training and Readiness Deputy Director, after attending the event. “VBF gives Air Force tacticians and test experts an unmatched ability to conduct multiple reps-and-sets in a virtual environment, with complete, in-person debriefs. In this venue, a team of experienced Airmen, working with joint partners, developed war winning TTPs, absolutely critical for success in Great Power Competition and potential future conflict.”

Additionally, VBF creates an opportunity for Navy, Army, Marine Corps, Space Force and Air Force capabilities to integrate without resource or security constraints. 

“The combination of Black Flag and Virtual Black Flag is absolutely critical to our combat capability,” said Lehoski. “The ability to integrate with our teammates from other services and test in an operationally realistic synthetic environment is integral to this mission.”