New "Red Air" for Australian Defence Force
 

Australian target supplier and Canada's Discovery Air have been awarded a two year contract for three Alpha Jets to supply "Red Air" etc to the ADF based at Williamtown RAAF Base.

A two year trial, apparently

Discovery Air Defence Services - Discovery Air Defence and Air Affairs Australia Win Jet Air Support Trial Contract in Australia

For the uninatiated...
 

Can I ask why something like Alpha jets (or Hawks for that matter) would be used for 'Red Air'-not specifically for the ADF, but for any AF?

Surely any real 'Red Air' threat would be of a faster, more sophisticated 4th/5th gen fighter nature, with much more advanced sensors/weapons systems to boot-or something more in line with hardware that the aggressor squadrons use in the US (F-15/16's)?

I believe there was talk about 100 squadron re-equipping with Tranche 1 Typhoons (although they seem destined to equip dedicated AD squadrons).

Is this merely a cost/training requirement issue, or is there a genuine good reason to use jets of this type?

Thank you.

If I could answer this with only one word: COST.