The year 2000 was marked by the participation of 6 national F-16s and 81 military personnel, including pilots, mission planners, and maintenance staff, in the RED FLAG exercise in the USA - considered the most comprehensive and demanding large-scale air exercise in the world.
Nellis Air Force Base in Nevada, USA, hosted this demanding and globally renowned exercise, during which 160 missions were conducted across the spectrum of Offensive Air Combat, Air-to-Air, and Air-to-Ground operations, employing live ammunition on targets located near the famous "Area 51" in the Nevada desert.
The participation of the national F-16s was carried out in conjunction with the EPAF (European Participating Air Forces) countries, which operate F-16s similar to the national ones.
This process aimed to test and consolidate synergies and capabilities for an operational scenario in which these five European nations (Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, and Portugal) could form a European Expeditionary Air Wing (EEAW) with F-16s.
The mission, which involved the projection of around 30 EPAF F-16 aircraft and multiple logistical support aircraft (C-130) and aerial refueling aircraft (KC-10 and KC-135), was led and supported in terms of SAR (Search and Rescue) services during the North Atlantic crossing by Portugal.