Members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF), the US Navy (USN), and the US Air Force (USAF) completed on 23 June a readiness exercise designed to validate the ability of the USAF’s 35th Fighter Wing at Misawa Air Base in Japan to rapidly generate combat airpower amid heightened tensions in the Asia-Pacific region.
In a statement issued that same day the USAF said the exercise culminated in the first joint and bilateral ‘elephant walk’ formation hosted by the base, which it said showcased the airbase’s “collective readiness and ability to generate combat airpower at a moment's notice to ensure regional stability”.
On 22 June 12 USAF F-16CM Fighting Falcons, 12 JASDF F-35As, two USN EA-18G Growlers, a USN C-12 Huron, two USAF MC-130J Commando II and a USN P-8 Poseidon aircraft, along with a JASDF CH-47 Chinook helicopter, participated in the first bilateral ‘elephant walk’ hosted by Misawa Air Base in Japan. (USAF/Staff Sergeant Melanie Bulow-Gonterman)
According to the USAF, 12 newly configured USAF F-16CM Fighting Falcons took to the runway, along with 12 JASDF F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, two USN EA-18G Growlers, a USN C-12 Huron, two USAF MC-130J Commando II aircraft from Kadena Air Base, a USN P-8 Poseidon, and a JASDF CH-47 Chinook helicopter.
With the exception of the MC-130Js, the rest of the aircraft that participated are assigned to Misawa Air Base.
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