U.S. F-16 Transformed into Russian Su-57 Lookalike in High-Stakes Red Flag 25-1 War Games
Recently, striking images from the exercise emerged online, revealing a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet cloaked in the distinctive camouflage of Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 Felon.
(DEFENCE SECURITY ASIA) — In the heart of the Nevada desert, Red Flag 25-1, one of the most intense and critical military exercises in the United States, is unfolding at Nellis Air Force Base—a proving ground where air warriors are forged in the fires of simulated combat.
This high-stakes training operation, designed to push pilots to their limits, will continue to challenge participants until February 14.
“Nellis Air Force Base is hosting Red Flag 25-1, a high-intensity combat exercise designed to simulate a pilot’s first 10 combat missions,” the base announced via its official social media account on X.
Amid the roar of fighter jets and the intensity of simulated battles, participants in this high-stakes military exercise will sharpen their air combat skills through a series of meticulously crafted scenarios—each designed to mirror the unforgiving conditions of real-world warfare.
Recently, striking images from the exercise emerged online, revealing a U.S. Air Force F-16 fighter jet cloaked in the distinctive camouflage of Russia’s fifth-generation Su-57 Felon.
This bold transformation is no mere aesthetic choice—it is a calculated element of Red Flag 25-1’s advanced training strategy, designed to immerse pilots in the visual and tactical realities of potential adversarial encounters.
A U.S. F-16 fighter jet has been painted in the color scheme of Russia’s Su-57 Felon fighter.
At Nellis Air Force Base, the 64th Aggressor Squadron takes on a crucial role—bringing the enemy to life through meticulously crafted simulations.
Their aircraft, painted in strikingly authentic Russian fighter jet schemes, serve as a powerful visual tool, immersing pilots in the reality of airborne threats and sharpening their ability to identify and engage adversaries with precision.
This strategy is more than just a test of skill; it’s a psychological battlefield.
By regularly facing realistic enemy look-alikes, pilots build the mental resilience needed to counteract “buck fever”—the momentary lapse in focus when confronted with an opponent in combat.
With each encounter, they refine their instincts, mastering the split-second decisions that can mean the difference between victory and defeat in actual aerial warfare.
Despite the structural differences between the F-16 and Russia’s cutting-edge Su-57, the Lockheed Martin-built fighter proves to be a formidable stand-in for adversary aircraft.
With its superb agility and combat versatility, the F-16 delivers an authentic and immersive training experience, pushing pilots to refine their tactics for high-stakes aerial engagements against fifth-generation threats.
Engineered to mirror the chaos and unpredictability of real-world combat, Red Flag is a proving ground where pilots and support crews sharpen their skills, enhance their battle readiness, and test their limits in the most demanding scenarios.
The exercise brings together cutting-edge combat aircraft, support assets, and elite military forces from the United States and allied nations, forging unmatched aerial dominance through relentless training.
Red Flag is conducted several times a year, covering a wide range of aerial combat scenarios, including:
Dogfights (close-range aerial combat)
Strategic strikes
Electronic warfare
Joint operations with ground and naval forces
Su-57
Red Flag exercises typically involve hundreds of fighter jets and other aerial assets from various branches of the U.S. military and allied nations.
For instance, during Red Flag 21-1 in early 2021, the exercise included approximately 2,400 personnel and a variety of USAF aircraft, such as: