The Air Force kicked off exercise Red Flag 16-1 last week, celebrating the 41st anniversary of the skilled multi-aircraft training mission.

This year, about 130 aircraft from over 24 different U.S. Air Force squadrons, four flying squadrons from both the Royal Australian Air Force and the United Kingdom's Royal Air Force have been streaking the skies across Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, the Air Force said. About 3,000 personnel are training in air, space and cyberspace operations under the exercise.

Aircraft have been scheduled to depart the base twice a day and participate in the exercise for up to five hours.

Since 1975, the exercises have trained more than 440,000 military personnel, including more than 145,000 air crew members flying more than 385,000 sorties, logging more than 660,000 hours of flying time, the Air Force said.

The 414th Combat Training Squadron, assigned to the 57th Wing, is leading operations for this Red Flag. And units such as the 325th Fighter Wing in charge of maintaining 12 F-22s for Red Flag  are taking point in various operations. 

Red Flag 16-1 is set to conclude Feb. 12.

Check out photos and a video from the exercise below.

An F-16 Fighting Falcon pilot prepares for take-off during Red Flag 16-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan. 25, 2016.

Photo Credit: A1C Kevin Tanenbaum/Air Force

An F-15E Strike Eagle from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, N.C., taxis on the flightline before takeoff during Red Flag 16-1, Jan. 25 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev.

Photo Credit: Senior Airman Alex Fox Echols III/Air Force

A 95th Fighter Squadron F-22 Raptor is refueled en route to Nellis AFB by a KC-135 Stratotanker from the 126th Air Refueling Wing, Scott Air Force Base, Ill., Jan. 19.

Photo Credit: Senior Airman Alex Fox Echols III/Air Force

An F-16 Fighting Falcon gets in position before take-off during Red Flag 16-1 at Nellis Air Force Base, Nev., Jan 25, 2016. Red Flag involves a variety of attack, fighter, bomber, reconnaissance, electronic warfare, air lift support and search and rescue aircraft.

Photo Credit: A1C Kevin Tanenbaum/Air Force

Oriana Pawlyk covers deployments, cyber, Guard/Reserve, uniforms, physical training, crime and operations in the Middle East, Europe and Pacific for Air Force Times. She was the Early Bird Brief editor in 2015. Email her at opawlyk@airforcetimes.com.

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