A point raised earlier does warrant further investigation.
If one were to imaginatively and collaboratively amass all the DACT / affil requests from neighbouring Air Forces plus USAFE - you might find that mutual provision of Red Air would work. Savings made by not tasking F-5, early F-16 or (woeful) Hawk to do the job may even allow for a small uplift in CFT.
Of course - it would rely on everyone pulling their weight and adopting good behaviours.
I don’t subscribe to the view that providing Red Air is inherently bad. I agree that you need a fair share of Blue but with a bit of imagination you can get a lot out of a Red Air sortie.
Perhaps Air just needs to set up a Combat Air dating agency using the EAG which is a good 12metres from the front door.