American F‑16 dons Russian camouflage for Red Flag exercises
In the United States, a significant military exercise, Red Flag 25-1, organised by Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, is underway. The event will continue until 14 February, and its participants are fine-tuning their skills in realistic scenarios that simulate battlefield conditions. An unusual photograph that has surfaced online provides evidence of this. It shows an American F-16 fighter jet painted in the colours of a Russian Su-57 Felon fighter.
The photograph shared on the official Nellis Base profile on X, which the Bulgarian Military service highlighted, features an F-16 painted in the distinctive Su-57 camouflage. Notably, this is not the first instance of an American fighter jet appearing in these skies with such colours.
American F-16 in unusual paint scheme
These colours are part of a training strategy aimed at closely replicating the conditions of a potential conflict. The 64th Aggressor Squadron from Nellis Base, responsible for simulating enemy tactics, uses paint schemes similar to Russian aircraft to familiarise pilots with the sight of a real threat in the sky.
The Bulgarian military explains that this approach helps mitigate the effects of "buck fever," a temporary lapse in concentration at the sight of the enemy. By frequently training with aircraft that resemble those of potential adversaries, pilots manage pressure better and respond more swiftly in actual combat situations.
Interestingly, the choice of a specific camouflage pattern was the outcome of a contest announced in 2019 by Gen. Rob Novotny on the social media channel of the 57th Fighter Wing, to which the 64th Aggressor Squadron belongs. A design inspired by the Su-57 was chosen from several proposals, demonstrating how modern technologies and community engagement influence military decisions.
Su-57 - Russian 5th generation fighter jet
Despite the structural differences between the F-16 and the Su-57, the American fighter serves effectively as a simulated adversary. Its agility and combat capabilities allow for realistic re-enactment of situations pilots might confront in a real fight against the Russian fifth-generation fighter.
The Su-57 was designed by the Sukhoi design bureau with air dominance and executing complex strike missions in mind. The fighter first flew in 2010, and its development has generated significant interest both in Russia and globally. This aircraft was developed to answer the American F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning II.
The Su-57 is about 20 metres long with a wingspan of roughly 14 metres, which, according to the Russians, employs stealth technology. It is powered by two AL-41F1 engines, slated to be replaced by a new unit known as "Product 30". The fighter can reach a top speed of approximately 2,600 kilometres per hour and can cruise supersonically without an afterburner — a crucial feature for fifth-generation fighters. The combat range of the Su-57 is about 1,500 kilometres, and its total range without air refuelling is nearly 3,500.
The aircraft is equipped with advanced avionics systems, including an AESA (Active Electronically Scanned Array) radar, which simultaneously facilitates the detection and tracking of multiple targets. These systems assist the pilot in managing a complex combat environment and enable simultaneous air combat and strike missions. The Su-57 can carry a wide array of armaments in internal weapon bays and on external mounts. The arsenal includes long—and short-range air-to-air missiles, cruise missiles, and precision-guided bombs.
