Exercise Gray Flag is a relatively small scale but high tech exercise which is organised by the US Navy and focuses on operational testing and integration of the latest technology. The latest iteration took place at NAS Point Mugu during the final week of September 2024. Paul Dunn visited for GAR.

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VANDY ONE is VX-9’s stunning all black F/A-18F continuing a legacy which includes famous F-14 and F-4 schemes from the past © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

Exercise Gray Flag is held at NAS Point Mugu, California, and organised by the US Navy’s Naval Air Warfare Center Weapons Division (NAWCWD), a division of Naval Air Systems Command (NAVAIR). NAWCWD’s mission is to oversee research and development along with the acquisition, test and evaluation of new technologies that can then be supplied to the fleet. It has responsibility for the Navy’s sprawling China Lake and Point Mugu complexes, where most of its testing programmes take place.

As part of its responsibility, NAWCWD organises an annual large force test event focusing on interoperability testing and tactics of “near-future capabilities” in a maritime environment. Although Gray Flag is smaller in scale than other, better known Flags, the technology being tested is obviously very high end, and participants come from across the Department of Defense, with limited participation by some of America’s closest allies.

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VX-9’s CO’s jet returns from an Exercise Gray Flag mission © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

The bulk of the aircraft taking part in Gray Flag 2024 came from VX-9 which deployed en masse to Point Mugu, with examples of the F/A-18E/F, EA-18G and F-35C, and at least one F/A-18F borrowed from sister squadron VX-31. Normally based at NAWS China Lake (with an F-35 detachment at Edwards AFB), VX-9 is the US Navy’s operational test squadron for the F/A-18, EA-18G and F-35C fleets. Its task is to perform testing and evaluation of new systems before they are fielded to operational units. This includes introducing new systems to the fleet, and also developing tactics and procedures for their operational use.

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Recently delivered F-35C from VX-9 © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

© Paul Dunn - Global Aviation Resource

F/A-18F from VX-9’s sister squadron at NAWS China Lake, VX-31 © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

This operational test role is also performed by other units across the US military flying services, and several such squadrons took part in Gray Flag 2024. From the USAF came F-15Es and F-35As from the 422nd TES at Nellis AFB. The mission of the 422nd TES is broadly comparable to that of VX-9, with its aircraft wearing the OT tailcode, for Operational Test.

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One of a number of 422nd TES F-15Es which took part in the exercise © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

© Paul Dunn - Global Aviation Resource

The 422nd TES also brought multiple F-35As to Point Mugu © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

Further examples of the F-35 came from the US Marine Corps, with VMX-1 bringing a number of F-35Bs from MCAS Yuma. Continuing the theme, VMX-1 is the Marine Corps’ main test and evaluation squadron; its F-35Bs were joined by at least one example from the RAF’s own operational test unit, 17 Sqn, based at Edwards AFB, CA.

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VMX-1 is the USMC evaluation unit, primarily based at MCAS Yuma © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

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This RAF F-35B is another recent delivery to 17 Sqn at Edwards AFB © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

NAS Point Mugu is itself home to a number of units, several of which also took part in Gray Flag. Numerically the most significant of these was VX-30 ‘Bloodhounds’, the unit tasked with patrolling and securing the range complex during weapons tests. Examples of the squadron’s aircraft flew during the main exercise mission, including several P-3s, a KC-130 and the unique NC-20G.

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VX-30’s aircraft tend to be quite colourful, with this P-3C being an excellent example. Another was seen in a much more muted colour scheme © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

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A large VX-30 badge adorns the tail of this KC-130 © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

Point Mugu is also home to the West Coast E-2 Hawkeye fleet, and several flew during the Gray Flag missions. It is likely that at least some of these participated, with VAW-113 ‘Black Eagles’ certainly providing an aircraft on a similar flight pattern on several days of the exercise. An unmarked E-2D seen taking part in the mission package is thought to be assigned to VX-20, the Navy’s test unit for larger multi-engine aircraft, normally based at NAS Patuxent River.

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NAS Point Mugu based E-2D from VAW-113 © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

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This unmarked E-2D is apparently flown by VX-20 © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

The Royal Australian Air Force provided a vital capability for Gray Flag, in the form of a single E-7A Wedgetail, providing support for the duration of the exercise. The USAF will receive the Wedgetail as a replacement for the E-3 Sentry in the coming years, so the involvement of an Australian example likely gives a glimpse of the improvements that the E-7 will bring when it arrives.

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This RAAF E-7A Wedgetail was a welcome international participant © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

In addition to those operating from Point Mugu itself, several aircraft came from other bases to support the exercise. Tanker capability took the form of USAF KC-46s from the 60th AMW at Travis AFB and KC-135s from the 452nd AMW at March ARB, along with a Voyager from the RAF, temporarily deployed to March ARB. On several days, these were joined by an RC-135V/W from the 55th Wg, operating direct from Offutt AFB.

A handful of civilian aircraft were also present during the exercise and are likely to have been involved. These included a Saab 340 N685PA, operated by Airborne Imaging and carrying an unidentified pod under the forward fuselage. Flying from its base at Mojave was the Navy’s shadowy NC-9D test aircraft, apparently operated by Raytheon on a variety of sensitive test programmes.

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This Saab SF340B was noted operating during the exercise carrying an unidentified pod under the forward fuselage. It still carries the colours it wore in a previous life when leased to Puppy Spot and used to ferry puppies to new owners! © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

Adversary support for Gray Flag was provided on selected days by ATAC, which has an operating base at Point Mugu – Hunters, Kfirs and Mirage F1s were noted on flight tracking sites on some days of the exercise.

To finish the list of participants, a pair of US Navy P-8s and one of the final operational USAF EC-130Hs were also operating from the base for the duration of the exercise. However, they took off before the main mission and landed some time after its conclusion, so they may have been involved in a different test programme.

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Time will shortly be called on the USAF’s ageing EC-130H fleet © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

© Paul Dunn - Global Aviation Resource

This P-8 is assigned to the secretive trials unit NAWC-23 at Dallas Love Field © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

The P-8s apparently came from the Navy’s secretive NAWC-23 unit based at Dallas Love Field, TX; one aircraft carried the AN/APS-154 radar mounted underneath, and also sported a non-standard bump on the top of the fuselage. NAWC-23 is part of NAVAIR, and the P-8s carry the NAVAIR insignia above their BuNo. Given the unit’s assumed role in developing new technology for the P-8 fleet, it would certainly make sense for it to participate in an exercise such as Gray Flag.

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Another NAWC-23 P-8A, this time sporting the AN/APS-154 radar under the fuselage and a non-standard bulge over the rear fuselage © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

© Paul Dunn - Global Aviation Resource

A better view of the rear fuselage bulge on this NAWC-23 P-8A © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

As befits an exercise testing “near-future capabilities”, there were some advanced weapons and systems seen fitted to the participating aircraft. These included a VX-9 F/A-18F carrying an impressive air to air loadout, including a total of four of the new AIM-174B long range missiles, developed from the ship launched RIM-174 (SM-6) SAM.

Several Super Hornets also sported the AN/ASG-34 system, which consists of an Infrared Search and Track (IRST) sensor integrated into the nose of the centreline fuel tank. Most of the EA-18Gs (including airframes from VX-9 and VAQ-131) carried the Next Generation Jammer-Mid Band (NGJ-MB) pods under their wings, a system which will eventually replace the current AN/ALQ-99 pods.

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VAQ-131 EA-18G Growler carrying the Next Generation Jammer – Mid Band pods under the wings and an older AN/ALQ-99 Low Band pod on the centreline © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

© Paul Dunn - Global Aviation Resource

One of several F/A-18E/Fs to sport the AN/ASG-34 IRST system, evidenced by the small sensor bulge at the front of the centreline fuel tank © Paul Dunn – Global Aviation Resource

Both the AN/ASG-34 and NGJ-MB (now designated AN/ALQ-249(V)1) are systems which are currently still in development, but have reached the stage when they are starting to be seen on operational aircraft, with the USS Abraham Lincoln recently deploying to the Middle East with VAQ-133 embarked as part of its Air Wing and seen carrying the AN/ALQ-249(V)1 pods for the first time.

Gray Flag offers something of a glimpse into the future of US Naval airpower and demonstrates the close relationship between the test and evaluation comminites across the DoD and beyond. This slightly low key exercise will continue to provide a vital component for the evolution and improvement of the US Navy’s air warfare tactics and doctrine over the coming decades.