An aggressor squadron or adversary squadron is a squadron that is trained to act as an opposing force in military wargames. Aggressor squadrons use enemy tactics, techniques, and procedures to give a realistic simulation of air combat. Since it is impractical to use actual enemy aircraft and equipment, surrogate aircraft are used to emulate potential adversaries.
A USAF F-16C aggressor aircraft. The camouflage scheme emulates Soviet markings.
An F-14A Tomcat aircraft from the Navy Fighter Weapons School painted to resemble an Iranian F-14.
Three F-5E Tiger II from the 527th Tactical Fighter Training Aggressor Squadron.
A US Navy Vought EA-7L Corsair II aircraft with a Soviet star and red numbers.
A military exercise, training exercise, maneuver (manoeuvre), or war game is the employment of military resources in training for military operations. Military exercises are conducted to explore the effects of warfare or test tactics and strategies without actual combat. They also ensure the combat readiness of garrisoned or deployable forces prior to deployment from a home base.
Marines moving between cover during a bilateral military exercise between the United States Marine Corps and Italian Armed Forces, 2019
British Army soldiers with a Covenanter tank during a World War II military exercise, 1942
A joint naval exercise between the Indian Navy, United States Navy, Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force, and Royal Australian Navy in 2020
Royal Artillery soldiers training in a virtually simulated area, 2015