{"id":28002355,"date":"2026-10-14T11:02:53","date_gmt":"2026-10-14T09:02:53","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/"},"modified":"2026-10-14T11:03:17","modified_gmt":"2026-10-14T09:03:17","slug":"comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/","title":{"rendered":"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package"},"content":{"rendered":"<style>.et_pb_title_container h1.entry-title { padding-top: 40px !important; }<\/style>\r\n\r\n<!-- mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<style>\r\n.mfsh-trigger{display:inline-flex;align-items:center;gap:10px;height:44px;padding:0 18px;margin:0 0 26px;border:2px solid #0F1720;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;font-family:inherit;font-size:14px;font-weight:700;line-height:1;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;transition:background .15s,color .15s}\r\n.mfsh-trigger:hover,.mfsh-trigger:focus-visible{background:#0F1720;color:#fff;outline:none}\r\n.mfsh-trigger svg{width:18px;height:18px;display:block;flex-shrink:0}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-bottom{margin:8px 0 28px}\r\n.mfsh-meta{position:relative;padding-right:190px}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta{position:absolute;right:0;bottom:0;margin:0;height:30px;padding:0 8.9px;font-size:13px}\r\n.mfsh-trigger.mfsh-inmeta svg{width:16px;height:16px}\r\n.mfsh-overlay{position:fixed;inset:0;background:rgba(15,23,32,.55);z-index:99999;display:flex;align-items:flex-end;justify-content:center;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s}\r\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open{opacity:1;pointer-events:auto}\r\n.mfsh-sheet{width:100%;max-width:520px;background:#fff;color:#0F1720;padding:18px 20px 28px;transform:translateY(24px);transition:transform .22s;box-shadow:0 12px 32px rgba(15,23,32,.25);font-family:inherit;max-height:92vh;overflow:auto;-webkit-overflow-scrolling:touch}\r\n.mfsh-overlay.mfsh-open .mfsh-sheet{transform:none}\r\n@media (min-width:640px){.mfsh-overlay{align-items:center}.mfsh-sheet{padding-bottom:20px}}\r\n.mfsh-head{display:flex;align-items:center;justify-content:space-between;margin:0 0 14px}\r\n.mfsh-head strong{font-size:18px;font-weight:800;display:flex;align-items:center;gap:8px;line-height:1}\r\n.mfsh-head strong svg{width:18px;height:18px}\r\n.mfsh-close{background:none;border:0;padding:6px;margin:0;cursor:pointer;color:#0F1720;line-height:0;box-shadow:none}\r\n.mfsh-close svg{width:18px;height:18px}\r\n.mfsh-preview{display:grid;grid-template-columns:96px 1fr;gap:12px;border:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:#F5F7FB;padding:10px;margin:0 0 12px;align-items:center}\r\n.mfsh-preview img{width:96px;height:72px;object-fit:cover;display:block;margin:0}\r\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-kicker{font-size:10px;font-weight:700;letter-spacing:.14em;text-transform:uppercase;color:#5C91FF;margin:0 0 4px;line-height:1.2}\r\n.mfsh-preview .mfsh-title{font-size:14px;line-height:1.3;font-weight:700;margin:0;display:block}\r\n.mfsh-list{display:grid;margin:0;padding:0}\r\n.mfsh-item{display:flex;align-items:center;gap:14px;height:50px;width:100%;border:0;border-top:1px solid #DCE3EE;background:none;padding:0 4px;margin:0;text-align:left;font-family:inherit;font-size:15px;font-weight:600;color:#0F1720;cursor:pointer;box-shadow:none;letter-spacing:0;text-transform:none;line-height:1}\r\n.mfsh-item:hover,.mfsh-item:focus-visible{background:#F5F7FB;outline:none}\r\n.mfsh-item svg{width:20px;height:20px;color:#5C91FF;flex-shrink:0;display:block}\r\n.mfsh-item small{margin-left:auto;color:#5B6674;font-weight:500;font-size:12px}\r\n.mfsh-item.mfsh-done svg{color:#1E9E5A}\r\n.mfsh-toast{position:fixed;left:50%;bottom:32px;transform:translate(-50%,10px);background:#0F1720;color:#fff;padding:10px 16px;font-weight:700;font-size:13px;font-family:inherit;opacity:0;pointer-events:none;transition:opacity .2s,transform .2s;z-index:100000}\r\n.mfsh-toast.mfsh-show{opacity:1;transform:translate(-50%,0)}\r\n@media (prefers-reduced-motion:reduce){.mfsh-overlay,.mfsh-sheet,.mfsh-toast,.mfsh-trigger{transition:none}}\r\n<\/style>\r\n<svg width=\"0\" height=\"0\" style=\"position:absolute\" aria-hidden=\"true\">\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-share\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M12 3v12M8 7l4-4 4 4M5 12v8h14v-8\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-close\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"2\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"m5 5 14 14M19 5 5 19\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-wa\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M12 2a10 10 0 0 0-8.6 15.1L2 22l5.1-1.3A10 10 0 1 0 12 2Zm0 1.8a8.2 8.2 0 1 1-4.2 15.3l-.3-.2-3 .8.8-2.9-.2-.3A8.2 8.2 0 0 1 12 3.8Zm-3 4.4c-.2 0-.5 0-.8.4-.3.3-1 1-1 2.4s1 2.8 1.2 3c.1.2 2 3.2 5 4.4 2.5 1 3 .8 3.5.7.5 0 1.7-.7 2-1.4.2-.7.2-1.3.1-1.4l-.5-.3-2-1c-.3 0-.5-.1-.7.2l-.9 1.1c-.2.2-.3.2-.6.1-.3-.2-1.3-.5-2.4-1.5-.9-.8-1.5-1.8-1.7-2-.2-.4 0-.5.2-.7l.4-.5.3-.5v-.5l-.9-2.2c-.2-.5-.4-.5-.6-.5H9Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-x\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M17.8 3h3l-6.7 7.7L22 21h-6.2l-4.8-6.3L5.4 21h-3l7.2-8.2L2 3h6.3l4.4 5.8L17.8 3Zm-1.1 16.2h1.7L7.4 4.7H5.6l11.1 14.5Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-fb\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M13.5 22v-8h2.7l.4-3.2h-3.1V8.8c0-.9.3-1.6 1.6-1.6h1.7V4.4c-.3 0-1.3-.1-2.5-.1-2.5 0-4.1 1.5-4.1 4.2v2.3H7.4V14h2.8v8h3.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-li\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M6.5 8.5H3V21h3.5V8.5ZM4.8 3a2 2 0 1 0 0 4 2 2 0 0 0 0-4ZM21 13.4c0-3.4-1.8-5.2-4.5-5.2-1.6 0-2.7.8-3.2 1.7V8.5H9.9V21h3.4v-6.4c0-1.7.6-2.8 2.1-2.8 1.4 0 2 1 2 2.8V21H21v-7.6Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-rd\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M22 12.1a2.4 2.4 0 0 0-4.1-1.7 11.7 11.7 0 0 0-5.5-1.7l1-4.5 3.1.7a1.7 1.7 0 1 0 .2-1l-3.6-.8a.5.5 0 0 0-.6.4l-1.1 5.2a11.8 11.8 0 0 0-5.8 1.7A2.4 2.4 0 1 0 3 14.3v.5c0 3.4 4 6.2 9 6.2s9-2.8 9-6.2v-.5a2.4 2.4 0 0 0 1-2.2ZM7.5 13.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 3.4 0 1.7 1.7 0 0 1-3.4 0Zm8.9 4.5c-1.2 1.2-3.4 1.3-4.4 1.3s-3.3-.1-4.4-1.3a.5.5 0 0 1 .7-.7c.7.8 2.4 1 3.7 1s2.9-.2 3.7-1a.5.5 0 0 1 .7.7Zm-.6-2.8a1.7 1.7 0 1 1 0-3.4 1.7 1.7 0 0 1 0 3.4Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-tg\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"currentColor\" d=\"M21.9 4.6 18.7 19.9c-.2 1-.9 1.3-1.7.8l-4.9-3.6-2.3 2.3c-.3.3-.5.5-1 .5l.4-5 9-8.2c.4-.3-.1-.5-.6-.2L6.4 13.5 1.6 12c-1-.3-1.1-1 .2-1.5l18.8-7.2c.9-.3 1.6.2 1.3 1.3Z\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-mail\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"M3 6h18v12H3z\"\/><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.8\" d=\"m3 7 9 6 9-6\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-link\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><path fill=\"none\" stroke=\"currentColor\" stroke-width=\"1.9\" stroke-linecap=\"square\" d=\"M10 14a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 0l3-3a4 4 0 0 0-5.7-5.7l-1.5 1.5M14 10a4 4 0 0 0-5.7 0l-3 3a4 4 0 0 0 5.7 5.7l1.5-1.5\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n  <symbol id=\"mfsh-i-more\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\"><circle cx=\"5\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"12\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><circle cx=\"19\" cy=\"12\" r=\"2\" fill=\"currentColor\"\/><\/symbol>\r\n<\/svg>\r\n<span class=\"mfsh-top-slot\"><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger\" data-mfsh-placement=\"top\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button><\/span>\r\n<script>\r\n(function(){\r\n  if (window.__mfsh) return; window.__mfsh = true;\r\n  var SECTION = 'afterburner';\r\n  function meta(p){ var m=document.querySelector('meta[property=\"'+p+'\"]'); return m ? m.getAttribute('content') : ''; }\r\n  function pageUrl(){ var c=document.querySelector('link[rel=\"canonical\"]'); return (c && c.href) || (location.origin + location.pathname); }\r\n  function pageTitle(){ var h=document.querySelector('h1.entry-title'); return (h && h.textContent.trim()) || meta('og:title') || document.title; }\r\n  function slug(){ return location.pathname.replace(\/\\\/+$\/,'').split('\/').pop() || 'home'; }\r\n  function kicker(){ var c=document.querySelector('.et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category tag\"], .et_pb_title_container a[rel=\"category\"], a[rel=\"category tag\"]'); return 'Afterburner' + (c && c.textContent.trim() ? ' \u00b7 ' + c.textContent.trim() : ''); }\r\n  function shareUrl(ch, placement){ return pageUrl() + '?utm_source=share&utm_medium=' + ch + '&utm_campaign=' + SECTION + '&utm_content=sheet_' + placement; }\r\n  function track(ch, placement, extra){\r\n    window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || [];\r\n    var ev = { event:'share', share_channel:ch, share_variant:'sheet', share_placement:placement, page_section:SECTION, content_id:slug() };\r\n    if (extra) for (var k in extra) ev[k]=extra[k];\r\n    window.dataLayer.push(ev);\r\n  }\r\n  var CH = [\r\n    ['whatsapp','WhatsApp','mfsh-i-wa',''],\r\n    ['x','X','mfsh-i-x',''],\r\n    ['facebook','Facebook','mfsh-i-fb',''],\r\n    ['linkedin','LinkedIn','mfsh-i-li',''],\r\n    ['reddit','Reddit','mfsh-i-rd','r\/aviation, r\/WarplanePorn'],\r\n    ['telegram','Telegram','mfsh-i-tg',''],\r\n    ['email','Email','mfsh-i-mail',''],\r\n    ['copy','Copy link','mfsh-i-link',''],\r\n    ['native','More','mfsh-i-more','Instagram, Signal, AirDrop']\r\n  ];\r\n  var overlay, toastEl, toastT, placement = 'top';\r\n  function build(){\r\n    overlay = document.createElement('div'); overlay.className = 'mfsh-overlay'; overlay.setAttribute('role','dialog'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-modal','true'); overlay.setAttribute('aria-label','Share');\r\n    var img = meta('og:image');\r\n    var items = CH.filter(function(c){ return c[0] !== 'native' || !!navigator.share; }).map(function(c){\r\n      return '<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-item\" data-mfsh-ch=\"'+c[0]+'\"><svg><use href=\"#'+c[2]+'\"\/><\/svg>'+c[1]+(c[3]?'<small>'+c[3]+'<\/small>':'')+'<\/button>';\r\n    }).join('');\r\n    overlay.innerHTML = '<div class=\"mfsh-sheet\"><div class=\"mfsh-head\"><strong><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share<\/strong><button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-close\" aria-label=\"Close\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-close\"\/><\/svg><\/button><\/div>'\r\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-preview\">' + (img ? '<img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"'+img+'\" alt=\"\">' : '<span><\/span>') + '<div><div class=\"mfsh-kicker\">'+kicker()+'<\/div><span class=\"mfsh-title\">'+pageTitle()+'<\/span><\/div><\/div>'\r\n      + '<div class=\"mfsh-list\">'+items+'<\/div><\/div>';\r\n    document.body.appendChild(overlay);\r\n    toastEl = document.createElement('div'); toastEl.className = 'mfsh-toast'; document.body.appendChild(toastEl);\r\n    overlay.addEventListener('click', function(e){\r\n      if (e.target === overlay || e.target.closest('.mfsh-close')) { close(); return; }\r\n      var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-item'); if (b) act(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-ch'), b);\r\n    });\r\n    document.addEventListener('keydown', function(e){ if (e.key === 'Escape') close(); });\r\n  }\r\n  function open(p){ placement = p || 'top'; if (!overlay) build(); overlay.classList.add('mfsh-open'); track('open', placement); }\r\n  function close(){ if (overlay) overlay.classList.remove('mfsh-open'); }\r\n  function toast(m){ toastEl.textContent = m; toastEl.classList.add('mfsh-show'); clearTimeout(toastT); toastT = setTimeout(function(){ toastEl.classList.remove('mfsh-show'); }, 1600); }\r\n  function act(ch, btn){\r\n    var url = shareUrl(ch, placement), t = pageTitle(), enc = encodeURIComponent;\r\n    if (ch === 'copy') {\r\n      var done = function(){ toast('Link copied'); btn.classList.add('mfsh-done'); setTimeout(function(){ btn.classList.remove('mfsh-done'); close(); }, 900); };\r\n      track(ch, placement);\r\n      if (navigator.clipboard && navigator.clipboard.writeText) navigator.clipboard.writeText(url).then(done, done); else done();\r\n      return;\r\n    }\r\n    if (ch === 'native') {\r\n      track(ch, placement, { share_result:'opened' });\r\n      navigator.share({ title:t, text:t, url:url }).then(function(){ track('native', placement, { share_result:'completed' }); close(); }).catch(function(){});\r\n      return;\r\n    }\r\n    var target = {\r\n      whatsapp: 'https:\/\/api.whatsapp.com\/send?text=' + enc(t + ' ' + url),\r\n      x:        'https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=' + enc(t) + '&url=' + enc(url) + '&via=MiGFlug',\r\n      facebook: 'https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=' + enc(url),\r\n      linkedin: 'https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/sharing\/share-offsite\/?url=' + enc(url),\r\n      reddit:   'https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/submit?url=' + enc(url) + '&title=' + enc(t),\r\n      telegram: 'https:\/\/t.me\/share\/url?url=' + enc(url) + '&text=' + enc(t),\r\n      email:    'mailto:?subject=' + enc(t) + '&body=' + enc('Thought you would like this, from Afterburner, MiGFlug\\'s magazine:\\n' + t + '\\n' + url)\r\n    }[ch];\r\n    track(ch, placement);\r\n    if (target) { if (ch === 'email') location.href = target; else window.open(target, '_blank', 'noopener,width=680,height=560'); }\r\n    close();\r\n  }\r\n  var mq = window.matchMedia('(min-width:981px)');\r\n  function place(){\r\n    var t = document.querySelector('.mfsh-trigger[data-mfsh-placement=\"top\"]'), slot = document.querySelector('.mfsh-top-slot');\r\n    var meta = [].slice.call(document.querySelectorAll('.et_pb_title_meta_container, .et_post_meta_wrapper .post-meta, .single .post-meta')).filter(function(m){ return m.offsetParent !== null; })[0];\r\n    if (!t || !slot) return;\r\n    if (meta && mq.matches) { meta.classList.add('mfsh-meta'); t.classList.add('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== meta) meta.appendChild(t); var a = meta.querySelector('a'); if (a) { var pr = document.createElement('span'); pr.style.cssText = 'display:inline-block;width:0;height:0;vertical-align:baseline'; a.appendChild(pr); var base = pr.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; pr.remove(); var fs = parseFloat(getComputedStyle(a).fontSize) || 14, mb = meta.getBoundingClientRect().bottom; t.style.bottom = Math.max(0, mb - (base + fs * 0.12)) + 'px'; } }\r\n    else { t.classList.remove('mfsh-inmeta'); if (t.parentNode !== slot) slot.appendChild(t); }\r\n  }\r\n  if (document.readyState === 'loading') document.addEventListener('DOMContentLoaded', place); else place(); window.addEventListener('load', place); if (document.fonts && document.fonts.ready) document.fonts.ready.then(place); window.addEventListener('resize', place);\r\n  if (mq.addEventListener) mq.addEventListener('change', place); else mq.addListener(place);\r\n  document.addEventListener('click', function(e){ var b = e.target.closest('.mfsh-trigger'); if (b) { e.preventDefault(); open(b.getAttribute('data-mfsh-placement') || 'top'); } });\r\n})();\r\n<\/script><!-- \/mfsh:top -->\r\n\r\n<p>When the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/united-kingdom-royal-air-force\/\">Royal Air Force<\/a> released the figures for <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/cobra-warrior-26-2-raf-exercise-942-sorties-2026\/\">Exercise Cobra Warrior 26-2<\/a> on 13 October, the headline number was 942 sorties. The more interesting number was smaller: fourteen. That was how many \"complex missions\" the five nations flew from <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-bases\/waddington\/\">RAF Waddington<\/a>, and each of those was a COMAO.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>COMAO stands for Composite Air Operations. It is NATO shorthand for the way modern air forces actually go to war: not as single jets or pairs, but as a package of many aircraft with different jobs, often from several countries and several bases, all flying one plan against one objective. Here is how one is put together.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f5f6f8;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:18px 22px;margin:26px 0\">\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 10px;font-weight:700;color:#0d1117;font-size:17px\">Quick Facts: COMAO (Composite Air Operations)<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:3px 0;font-size:15px\"><strong>What it is:<\/strong> A package of aircraft with different roles flying one mission against one objective<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:3px 0;font-size:15px\"><strong>Also called:<\/strong> Strike package; the US Navy's term is \"alpha strike\"<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:3px 0;font-size:15px\"><strong>Typical roles:<\/strong> Strikers, escort and sweep fighters, SEAD, jammers, tankers, AWACS, reconnaissance<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:3px 0;font-size:15px\"><strong>Who leads it:<\/strong> A mission commander, usually a front-line fighter pilot<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:3px 0;font-size:15px\"><strong>Where NATO trains leaders:<\/strong> Tactical Leadership Programme, Albacete, Spain<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:3px 0;font-size:15px\"><strong>Best-known exercises:<\/strong> Red Flag (Nellis, since 1975), Cobra Warrior (UK), Frisian Flag (Netherlands)<\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The Problem a COMAO Solves<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>A modern defended target is protected by fighters, surface-to-air missiles and radars that are all linked together. No single aircraft type can deal with all of that and still deliver its weapons. So the job is split up. A strike package, as it is usually described, combines bombers or attack jets with fighters to protect them from enemy aircraft, \"Wild Weasels\" to suppress anti-aircraft defences, reconnaissance aircraft, and tankers to extend the range. AWACS and stand-off jamming aircraft support the package without entering the most dangerous airspace.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The idea was hammered out over North Vietnam, where American raids grew into elaborate packages of strikers, escorts and <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wild-weasels-first-in-last-out-sead-vietnam-ygbsm\/\">Wild Weasels<\/a>. It has been the default shape of a large air operation ever since.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Who Does What in the Package<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<ul>\r\n<li><strong>Strikers.<\/strong> The reason the package exists: the aircraft carrying weapons for the target, such as <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-16-fighting-falcon\/\">F-16s<\/a>, <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/eurofighter-typhoon\/\">Eurofighter Typhoons<\/a> or F-15Es.<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Sweep and escort.<\/strong> Air-superiority fighters, such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/f-22-raptor\/\">F-22 Raptor<\/a>, that go ahead of the strikers to clear enemy fighters out of the way, or stay with them to protect them.<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>SEAD.<\/strong> Suppression of Enemy Air Defences: jets that hunt the radars and missile sites, or force them to switch off, so the strikers can get through.<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Electronic attack.<\/strong> Jammers such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/ea-18g-growler\/\">EA-18G Growler<\/a> that blind or confuse enemy radars and communications.<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Tankers.<\/strong> Aircraft such as the <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/kc-135-stratotanker\/\">KC-135<\/a> that refuel the package on the way in and on the way out.<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Command and control.<\/strong> An <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/aircraft\/e-3-sentry\/\">E-3 AWACS<\/a> or similar radar aircraft that watches the whole battle and tells each element what is coming.<\/li>\r\n<li><strong>Reconnaissance.<\/strong> Aircraft or drones that look at the target before the attack and check the damage afterwards.<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/f-22-raptors-27th-fighter-squadron-red-flag-13-3.jpg\" alt=\"Three F-22 Raptors of the 27th Fighter Squadron during Red Flag 13-3 at Nellis\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">F-22 Raptors of the 27th Fighter Squadron during Red Flag 13-3. Air-superiority fighters like these usually fly sweep or escort in a large package. Photo: U.S. Department of Defense (public domain)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">The Mission Commander: One Pilot, Dozens of Jets<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>Someone has to turn all those pieces into one plan, and in NATO that person is usually a front-line fighter pilot acting as mission commander. They decide the route, the timing, which element goes first and how everyone stays out of everyone else's way. On the day, they fly the mission themselves while leading the package.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>NATO runs a school for exactly this job. The Tactical Leadership Programme at <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-bases\/albacete-los-llanos\/\">Albacete-Los Llanos Air Base<\/a> in Spain runs a COMAO Flying Course that, in NATO's words, aims to improve \"the tactical leadership skills and flying capabilities of front line fighter Mission Commanders\". For the 2021 course NATO deployed an E-3A AWACS with 50 crew from Geilenkirchen to fly the battle management.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;The intent of the course is to train young pilots to become a mission commander.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Major Patricia Allemeersch<\/strong> &mdash; E-3A Evaluator Tactical Director, NATO AWACS (December 2021)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WZp-nh_kmbg\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:6px 0 24px;font-style:italic\">Flying Course 2021-4 at the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme, Albacete. Video: Tactical Leadership Programme<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">How a COMAO Mission Unfolds<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>A large-force mission runs to a familiar rhythm. It starts with planning, often the day before, when the mission commander and the leads of each element build the plan around one fixed point: the time the weapons must hit the target. Everything else is worked backwards from that moment, from tanker slots to take-off times at different bases.<\/p>\r\n\r\n<p>The whole package then briefs together. In the air, the elements join up, refuel and push towards the target in a carefully timed sequence: sweep fighters first to clear the sky, SEAD and jammers to suppress the defences, then the strikers, with the AWACS controlling the picture throughout. Afterwards comes the part pilots remember most: the mass debrief, where every shot, every loss and every mistake is reconstructed.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\" style=\"margin:0 0 24px;width:100%\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" width=\"1024\" src=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/nato-e-3a-awacs-sentry-in-flight.jpg\" alt=\"NATO Boeing E-3A AWACS in flight\" style=\"width:100%;height:auto;max-width:100%;display:block\"><figcaption style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin-top:6px;font-style:italic\">A NATO E-3A AWACS. Radar aircraft like this one direct the package from a safe distance and keep every element aware of the threats. Photo: Clemens Vasters (CC BY 2.0)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"background:#f8f9fa;border-left:4px solid #1565c0;padding:20px 22px;margin:18px 0 24px;font-size:16px;line-height:1.7;display:flex;gap:20px;align-items:flex-start\"><div><em>&ldquo;This programme provides a unique, robust and high value training opportunity to our international combat ready crews.&rdquo;<\/em><div style=\"margin-top:10px;font-size:14px;color:#555\"><strong>Major General Thomas Kunkel<\/strong> &mdash; Force Commander, NATO Airborne Early Warning and Control Force (December 2021)<\/div><\/div><\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n<h2 style=\"padding-top:22px\">Why Red Flag Exists<\/h2>\r\n\r\n<p>The best-known place to fly a COMAO is Red Flag at <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-bases\/nellis\/\">Nellis Air Force Base<\/a>, Nevada. It began on 29 November 1975, after a <a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/air-forces\/united-states-air-force\/\">US Air Force<\/a> study called Project Red Baron II found that a pilot's chances of surviving combat rose dramatically once he had flown ten combat missions. Red Flag was built to give crews those first ten missions in training, against a realistic \"Red Force\" enemy, over a range of roughly 60 by 100 nautical miles.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/WhBbMlNWlnU\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:6px 0 24px;font-style:italic\">Inside Red Flag at Nellis Air Force Base. Video: Sam Eckholm<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p>Europe has its own versions. Cobra Warrior in the UK, Frisian Flag in the Netherlands and the TLP courses in Spain all exist for the same reason: an air force that has only ever flown in pairs will not suddenly know how to fight as a package of dozens of jets on the first day of a war.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<div style=\"position:relative;padding-bottom:56.25%;height:0;overflow:hidden;margin:24px 0 6px\"><iframe class=\"skip-lazy\" data-no-lazy=\"1\" loading=\"eager\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/vXKpVp8U6Bk\" style=\"position:absolute;top:0;left:0;width:100%;height:100%;border:0\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div><p style=\"font-size:13px;color:#777;text-align:center;margin:6px 0 24px;font-style:italic\">A COMAO demonstration at the Portuguese Air Force's 70th anniversary show at Beja Air Base. Video: PMO Aviation Channel<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n<p><em>Sources: NATO Allied Air Command (Tactical Leadership Programme, December 2021); Royal Air Force (Cobra Warrior 26-2 figures, October 2026); Wikipedia (Exercise Red Flag; Strike package).<\/em><\/p>\r\n\r\n<!-- mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n<button type=\"button\" class=\"mfsh-trigger mfsh-bottom\" data-mfsh-placement=\"bottom\" aria-haspopup=\"dialog\"><svg><use href=\"#mfsh-i-share\"\/><\/svg>Share this story<\/button>\r\n\r\n<!-- \/mfsh:bottom -->\r\n\r\n\r\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n<style>.mfq{margin:34px 0 8px}.mfq h2{font:26px\/1.3 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117;padding-top:22px;margin:0 0 6px}.mfq .qa details{border-top:1px solid #5C91FF;margin:0;padding:0}.mfq .qa details:last-of-type{border-bottom:1px solid #e2e7ee}.mfq .qa summary{cursor:pointer;list-style:none;display:flex;justify-content:space-between;align-items:center;gap:16px;padding:22px 26px;font:18px\/1.7 \"Gilroy semiBold\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#0d1117}.mfq .qa summary::-webkit-details-marker{display:none}.mfq .qa summary::after{content:\"+\";font:24px Helvetica,sans-serif;color:#3568e0;flex:0 0 auto}.mfq .qa details[open] summary::after{content:\"\\2013\"}.mfq .qa details:hover summary{color:#3568e0}.mfq .qa .a{font:16px\/1.7 \"Gilroy regular\",Helvetica,Arial,sans-serif;color:#454e5e;padding:0 26px 24px}.mfq .qa .a a{color:#3568e0}@media(max-width:680px){.mfq .qa summary{padding:18px 14px;font-size:17px}.mfq .qa .a{padding:0 14px 20px}}<\/style>\r\n\r\n\r\n<section class=\"mfq\"><h2>Frequently Asked Questions<\/h2><div class=\"qa\"><details open><summary>What does COMAO stand for?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">COMAO stands for Composite Air Operations. It is the NATO term for a package of aircraft with different roles, often from several nations and bases, flying one coordinated plan against one objective. The same idea is often called a strike package, and the US Navy has traditionally called it an alpha strike.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Which aircraft make up a COMAO strike package?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">A COMAO typically combines strikers carrying weapons, sweep and escort fighters to deal with enemy aircraft, SEAD aircraft to suppress air defences, electronic-attack jammers, tankers for refuelling, an AWACS for command and control, and reconnaissance assets. Each element has its own job, timed around the moment the weapons hit the target.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What does a COMAO mission commander do?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The mission commander, usually a front-line fighter pilot, builds the plan for the whole package: route, timing, the order of each element and how the jets stay out of each other's way. They brief everyone and then lead the mission while flying it themselves. NATO trains them at the Tactical Leadership Programme in Albacete, Spain.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>What is the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) is a multinational NATO headquarters at Albacete-Los Llanos Air Base in Spain. Its COMAO Flying Course aims to improve the tactical leadership skills and flying capabilities of front-line fighter mission commanders, with crews from many NATO nations practising composite air operations together.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>Why was Exercise Red Flag created?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">Red Flag began at Nellis Air Force Base on 29 November 1975. A US Air Force study, Project Red Baron II, found that a pilot's chance of surviving combat rose sharply after ten combat missions, so Red Flag was designed to give crews those first ten missions in realistic training against a simulated enemy.<\/div><\/details><details><summary>How many COMAO missions were flown in Cobra Warrior 26-2?<\/summary><div class=\"a\">The Royal Air Force said Exercise Cobra Warrior 26-2, hosted at RAF Waddington from 14 September 2026, involved 942 sorties, more than 2,500 flying hours and fourteen complex missions flown by five NATO nations. The figures were released on 13 October 2026.<\/div><\/details><\/div><\/section>\r\n\r\n\r\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\">{\"@context\":\"https:\/\/schema.org\",\"@type\":\"FAQPage\",\"mainEntity\":[{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What does COMAO stand for?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"COMAO stands for Composite Air Operations. It is the NATO term for a package of aircraft with different roles, often from several nations and bases, flying one coordinated plan against one objective. The same idea is often called a strike package, and the US Navy has traditionally called it an alpha strike.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Which aircraft make up a COMAO strike package?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"A COMAO typically combines strikers carrying weapons, sweep and escort fighters to deal with enemy aircraft, SEAD aircraft to suppress air defences, electronic-attack jammers, tankers for refuelling, an AWACS for command and control, and reconnaissance assets. Each element has its own job, timed around the moment the weapons hit the target.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What does a COMAO mission commander do?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The mission commander, usually a front-line fighter pilot, builds the plan for the whole package: route, timing, the order of each element and how the jets stay out of each other's way. They brief everyone and then lead the mission while flying it themselves. NATO trains them at the Tactical Leadership Programme in Albacete, Spain.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"What is the NATO Tactical Leadership Programme?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Tactical Leadership Programme (TLP) is a multinational NATO headquarters at Albacete-Los Llanos Air Base in Spain. Its COMAO Flying Course aims to improve the tactical leadership skills and flying capabilities of front-line fighter mission commanders, with crews from many NATO nations practising composite air operations together.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"Why was Exercise Red Flag created?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"Red Flag began at Nellis Air Force Base on 29 November 1975. A US Air Force study, Project Red Baron II, found that a pilot's chance of surviving combat rose sharply after ten combat missions, so Red Flag was designed to give crews those first ten missions in realistic training against a simulated enemy.\"}},{\"@type\":\"Question\",\"name\":\"How many COMAO missions were flown in Cobra Warrior 26-2?\",\"acceptedAnswer\":{\"@type\":\"Answer\",\"text\":\"The Royal Air Force said Exercise Cobra Warrior 26-2, hosted at RAF Waddington from 14 September 2026, involved 942 sorties, more than 2,500 flying hours and fourteen complex missions flown by five NATO nations. The figures were released on 13 October 2026.\"}}]}<\/script><div style=\"background:#f0f4ff;border-left:4px solid #5C91FF;padding:16px 20px;margin:32px 0 8px\">\r\n<p style=\"margin:0 0 8px;font-weight:600;color:#333\">Related Posts<\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/cobra-warrior-26-2-raf-exercise-942-sorties-2026\/\">Cobra Warrior 26-2: RAF Exercise Ends After 942 Sorties<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/red-flag-alaska-26-3-us-australia-2026\/\">US and Australia Wage War Over Alaska<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wild-weasels-first-in-last-out-sead-vietnam-ygbsm\/\">Wild Weasels: First In, Last Out<\/a><\/p>\r\n<p style=\"margin:4px 0\"><a href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/awacs-e3-sentry-changed-air-warfare-desert-storm-airborne-radar\/\">How AWACS Changed Air Warfare: The Radar Plane That Gave One Side God\u2019s-Eye View<\/a><\/p>\r\n<\/div>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Strikers, escorts, Wild Weasels, jammers, tankers and AWACS: how a NATO COMAO turns dozens of jets from several nations into one plan, and why Red Flag exists.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":26,"featured_media":28001886,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"editor_notices":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[664],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-28002355","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-military-aviation"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.7 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package | MiGFlug<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"COMAO explained: how NATO combines strikers, escorts, SEAD, jammers, tankers and AWACS into one strike package, who leads it, and why Red Flag was created.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package | MiGFlug\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"COMAO explained: how NATO combines strikers, escorts, SEAD, jammers, tankers and AWACS into one strike package, who leads it, and why Red Flag was created.\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"Afterburner - MiGFlug&#039;s Magazine\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"2026-10-14T09:02:53+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2026-10-14T09:03:17+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"1280\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"720\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"Joseph Duncan\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@migflug\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"Joseph Duncan\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"9 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"Joseph Duncan\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b969321b26faa21775f0c40e141cdf85\"},\"headline\":\"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-14T09:02:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-14T09:03:17+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":1455,\"commentCount\":0,\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Military Aviation\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"CommentAction\",\"name\":\"Comment\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/#respond\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/\",\"name\":\"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package | MiGFlug\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"2026-10-14T09:02:53+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2026-10-14T09:03:17+00:00\",\"description\":\"COMAO explained: how NATO combines strikers, escorts, SEAD, jammers, tankers and AWACS into one strike package, who leads it, and why Red Flag was created.\",\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/10\\\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg\",\"width\":1280,\"height\":720,\"caption\":\"Three F-16 Fighting Falcons of the 421st Fighter Squadron over the Nevada Test and Training Range during Red Flag 12-4\"},{\"@type\":\"BreadcrumbList\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\\\/#breadcrumb\",\"itemListElement\":[{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":1,\"name\":\"Startseite\",\"item\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\"},{\"@type\":\"ListItem\",\"position\":2,\"name\":\"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package\"}]},{\"@type\":\"WebSite\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#website\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"name\":\"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine\",\"description\":\"for those interested in flying military jets and aviation related  topics\",\"publisher\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\"},\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"SearchAction\",\"target\":{\"@type\":\"EntryPoint\",\"urlTemplate\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/?s={search_term_string}\"},\"query-input\":{\"@type\":\"PropertyValueSpecification\",\"valueRequired\":true,\"valueName\":\"search_term_string\"}}],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"Organization\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#organization\",\"name\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/\",\"logo\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\\\/cb:0e0_.b970\\\/w:897\\\/h:278\\\/q:mauto\\\/ig:avif\\\/https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/sites\\\/4\\\/2026\\\/06\\\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png\",\"width\":897,\"height\":278,\"caption\":\"MiGFlug GmbH\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/logo\\\/image\\\/\"},\"sameAs\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/www.facebook.com\\\/MiGFlug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/x.com\\\/migflug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.instagram.com\\\/migflug\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.youtube.com\\\/user\\\/MiGFlug\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.linkedin.com\\\/company\\\/migflug.com\\\/\",\"https:\\\/\\\/www.pinterest.ch\\\/migflug\\\/\"]},{\"@type\":\"Person\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/it\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b969321b26faa21775f0c40e141cdf85\",\"name\":\"Joseph Duncan\",\"image\":{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cd6d4cc4c63e8c05a1f5db9308c285d6dd9753e6d076a39f8c5ed9a7d9f7c523?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cd6d4cc4c63e8c05a1f5db9308c285d6dd9753e6d076a39f8c5ed9a7d9f7c523?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/secure.gravatar.com\\\/avatar\\\/cd6d4cc4c63e8c05a1f5db9308c285d6dd9753e6d076a39f8c5ed9a7d9f7c523?s=96&d=mm&r=g\",\"caption\":\"Joseph Duncan\"},\"description\":\"Joseph Duncan covers breaking defence news \u2014 fast, sharp dispatches on the Pentagon, procurement and the world\u2019s air forces.\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/migflug.com\\\/afterburner\\\/author\\\/josephduncan\\\/\"}]}<\/script>\n<!-- \/ Yoast SEO plugin. -->","yoast_head_json":{"title":"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package | MiGFlug","description":"COMAO explained: how NATO combines strikers, escorts, SEAD, jammers, tankers and AWACS into one strike package, who leads it, and why Red Flag was created.","robots":{"index":"index","follow":"follow","max-snippet":"max-snippet:-1","max-image-preview":"max-image-preview:large","max-video-preview":"max-video-preview:-1"},"canonical":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/","og_locale":"en_US","og_type":"article","og_title":"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package | MiGFlug","og_description":"COMAO explained: how NATO combines strikers, escorts, SEAD, jammers, tankers and AWACS into one strike package, who leads it, and why Red Flag was created.","og_url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/","og_site_name":"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine","article_publisher":"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","article_published_time":"2026-10-14T09:02:53+00:00","article_modified_time":"2026-10-14T09:03:17+00:00","og_image":[{"width":1280,"height":720,"url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg","type":"image\/jpeg"}],"author":"Joseph Duncan","twitter_card":"summary_large_image","twitter_creator":"@migflug","twitter_site":"@migflug","twitter_misc":{"Written by":"Joseph Duncan","Est. reading time":"9 minutes"},"schema":{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org","@graph":[{"@type":"Article","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/#article","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/"},"author":{"name":"Joseph Duncan","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/b969321b26faa21775f0c40e141cdf85"},"headline":"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package","datePublished":"2026-10-14T09:02:53+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-14T09:03:17+00:00","mainEntityOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/"},"wordCount":1455,"commentCount":0,"publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg","articleSection":["Military Aviation"],"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"CommentAction","name":"Comment","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/#respond"]}]},{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/","name":"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package | MiGFlug","isPartOf":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website"},"primaryImageOfPage":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/#primaryimage"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/#primaryimage"},"thumbnailUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg","datePublished":"2026-10-14T09:02:53+00:00","dateModified":"2026-10-14T09:03:17+00:00","description":"COMAO explained: how NATO combines strikers, escorts, SEAD, jammers, tankers and AWACS into one strike package, who leads it, and why Red Flag was created.","breadcrumb":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/#breadcrumb"},"inLanguage":"en-US","potentialAction":[{"@type":"ReadAction","target":["https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/"]}]},{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/#primaryimage","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg","contentUrl":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/10\/red-flag-f-16-three-ship-nevada-test-training-range.jpg","width":1280,"height":720,"caption":"Three F-16 Fighting Falcons of the 421st Fighter Squadron over the Nevada Test and Training Range during Red Flag 12-4"},{"@type":"BreadcrumbList","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/comao-composite-air-operations-explained-strike-package\/#breadcrumb","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Startseite","item":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"COMAO Explained: How Air Forces Fly Dozens of Jets as One Package"}]},{"@type":"WebSite","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#website","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","name":"Afterburner - MiGFlug's Magazine","description":"for those interested in flying military jets and aviation related  topics","publisher":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization"},"potentialAction":[{"@type":"SearchAction","target":{"@type":"EntryPoint","urlTemplate":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/?s={search_term_string}"},"query-input":{"@type":"PropertyValueSpecification","valueRequired":true,"valueName":"search_term_string"}}],"inLanguage":"en-US"},{"@type":"Organization","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#organization","name":"MiGFlug GmbH","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/","url":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","contentUrl":"https:\/\/ml5psubhxdln.i.optimole.com\/cb:0e0_.b970\/w:897\/h:278\/q:mauto\/ig:avif\/https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/4\/2026\/06\/MIGFLUG_LOGO-no-background.png","width":897,"height":278,"caption":"MiGFlug GmbH"},"image":{"@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/logo\/image\/"},"sameAs":["https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/MiGFlug\/","https:\/\/x.com\/migflug","https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/migflug\/","https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/user\/MiGFlug","https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/company\/migflug.com\/","https:\/\/www.pinterest.ch\/migflug\/"]},{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/it\/#\/schema\/person\/b969321b26faa21775f0c40e141cdf85","name":"Joseph Duncan","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","inLanguage":"en-US","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd6d4cc4c63e8c05a1f5db9308c285d6dd9753e6d076a39f8c5ed9a7d9f7c523?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd6d4cc4c63e8c05a1f5db9308c285d6dd9753e6d076a39f8c5ed9a7d9f7c523?s=96&d=mm&r=g","contentUrl":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/cd6d4cc4c63e8c05a1f5db9308c285d6dd9753e6d076a39f8c5ed9a7d9f7c523?s=96&d=mm&r=g","caption":"Joseph Duncan"},"description":"Joseph Duncan covers breaking defence news \u2014 fast, sharp dispatches on the Pentagon, procurement and the world\u2019s air forces.","url":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/author\/josephduncan\/"}]}},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28002355","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/26"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=28002355"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28002355\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":28002440,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/28002355\/revisions\/28002440"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/28001886"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=28002355"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=28002355"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/migflug.com\/afterburner\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=28002355"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}