Gear up and away! A 1st Fighter Wing F-22A Raptor departs on an afternoon mission. The Raptors worked with the F-35A as part of the USAF’s 4th/5th generation aircraft integration

The 1st Fighter Wing/27th Fighter Squadron flew F-22A Raptors from Joint Base Langley-Eustis each morning. Clearly evident here are the stealthy lines of the jets parked on the ramp for a turnaround and participation in the afternoon’s proceedings

Another 'red air' asset was this two-seat AT-38B of the 71st Fighter Training Squadron ‘Ironmen’ from Joint Base Langley-Eustis

Draken International L-159E ALCAs were used as 'Red Air' during the manoeuvres

A VFA-151 F/A-18E Super Hornet from NAS Lemoore, California, departs Volk Field ANGB in full afterburner

An F-35A Lightning II, assigned to the 158th Fighter Wing, Vermont Air National Guard, takes off from Volk Field Air National Guard Base, Wisconsin, during Exercise Northern Lightning

Pilots of five F-35A Lightning IIs from the Vermont ANG prepare to put their helmets on for another mission. The unit had a 'Wild Weasel' role

With contrails coming off the wings, a Vermont ANG pilot breaks his F-35A into the circuit to land