Inside The Air Force's Elite Aggressor Program With One Of Its Top Pilots
Journey into the shadowy world of the aggressors—where they came from, where they're going, what it takes to become one, and what it's like being one.
By Jamie Hunter December 14, 2020
The U.S. Air Force takes its aggressor forces very seriously indeed. They are considered to be vital training assets that keep operational squadrons sharp, at the tip of the spear, and ready for whatever threats may come their way. One particular pilot has unprecedented experience in this field, and in this exclusive and in-depth interview, he charts the history and the changing fortunes of the fascinating and clandestine aggressor world that is now in a period of dramatic expansion.
The aggressor world
Fighter aircraft types decked out in exotic paint schemes are becoming a more regular sight on military flight lines. It reflects a renewed emphasis on high-end training for fighter pilots to meet near-peer threats, such as those posed by China and Russia. This has spurred a huge increase in professional aggressor assets that support regular training. Aggressor forces include aircraft, systems, and skilled operators that offer realistic airborne presentations of potential enemy equipment, tactics, and techniques to expose front line aviators to the kind of engagements they could meet in real-world aerial combat.
https://www.thedrive.com/the-war-zone/37991/playing-the-bad-guy-inside-the-air-forces-elite-aggressor-program-with-one-of-its-top-pilots
