Plans are shaping up for an annual military exercise in the Lakeland. Exercise Maple Flag at CFB Cold Lake will see more than 1500 Royal Canadian Air Force Members team up with members of the United States Air Force, French Air Force and forces from Belgium and Qatar, among others for two weeks of training. 4 Wing Cold Lake Public Affairs Officer Captain Mathew Strong says involving multiple forces makes the training more intensive for our air force members.
“Normally when we exercise we practice fighting with each other up in the Cold Lake Air Weapons Range. Exercise Maple Flag offers the same thing but with our partners and allies.”
The exercise will include training like air to air refueling as well as air to surface weapons. A number of aircraft are expected to be seen in the skies, including B-52 Bombers and F-16 fighters from the United States and of course our own CF-18 Hornets.
Captain Strong says with any major exercise on the base comes tightened security for those coming in and out.
“Residents can expect to see roving patrols, increased police presence with the military police. They might even see some people at the gates carrying larger weapons than normal. This is all standard stuff, we don’t mean to alarm anybody.”
He also says an increase in aircraft in the skies will probably mean an increase in noise. Exercise Maple Flag is do to begin on June 11th and will run until June 22nd. More info on the event can be found by clicking here.