Fighter aircraft from the U.S., Japan, and the Republic of Korea conduct a trilateral escort flight of U.S. bombers operating in the Indo-Pacific, Nov. 3, 2024. Two U.S. F-16 from the 36th Fighter Squadron, 51st Fighter Wing flew with four Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-2s from the 8th Air Wing and four Republic of Korea Air Force F-15Ks from the 11th Fighter Wing to escort one U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer. U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Maria Umanzor Guzman
A B-1 bomber from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D., joined 10 Allied fighters from the U.S., Japan, and South Korea on Nov. 3 in a show of force just days after North Korea tested an intercontinental ballistic missile. China, meanwhile, countered with its own wave of its warplanes near Taiwan the same day.
It was the second time this year the U.S., Japan, and South Korealn air forces exercised together. The flight “continues strong trilateral cooperation, enabling immediate response to regional security challenges in a critical security environment,” U.S. Indo-Pacific Command said in a statement.
Joining the B-1 were four Japanese F-2s, four South Korean F-15Ks, and two USAF F-16s from the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base, South Korea.
South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff noted in a release that the flight took the aircraft east of Jeju Island, between Japan and South Korea and a few hundred miles from China and Taiwan, and was in response to North Korea’s ICBM test on Oct. 31.
Public flight tracking data showed refueling aircraft supporting the flight flying off the coast of Tokyo on the eastern side of Japan.
“Our three nations maintain an absolute commitment to the shared vision of a secure, rules-based, and open Indo-Pacific region,” INDOPACOM said in its release.
North Korea’s ICBM test was its first in almost a year, according to the Associated Press. It also traveled further than any in the past, indicative of potential advancement in capability. The launch also followed close on the heels of revelations that North Korea has sent thousands of troops to Russia for potential deployment in its war against Ukraine. That move has ratcheted up tensions around the globe.
Meanwhile, Taiwan reported Nov. 3 that China sent 35 military aircraft, including fighters and bombers, south of its island territory. China has steadily increased its military activity around Taiwan, sending waves of aircraft and ships and rehearing potential blockades and invasions. Beijing has said it is preparing its military to be ready for an invasion by 2027.
U.S. forces are on alert around the globe, preparing for potential contingencies should adversaries seek to use the contentious U.S. election for their own purposes, the Washington Post reported.
In addition to the bomber escort flight, the U.S. has also flexed its airpower in the Pacific in recent weeks through Keen Sword 25 across Japan. As part of the exercise, USAF F-22 fighters flew alongside U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs and Japanese Air Self-Defense Force F-15Js at Nyutabaru Air Base and USAF F-16 fighters flew with Japanese F-2s at Tsuiki Air Base in southwest Japan.
U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptors assigned to the 525th Fighter Generation Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, sit on the flightline before takeoff during Keen Sword 25 at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Nyutabaru Air Base, Japan, Oct. 29, 2024. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)
U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, sit on the flight line during Keen Sword 25 at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Tsuiki Air Base, Japan, Oct. 28, 2024. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cedrique Oldaker)
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi F-2 takes off from Tsuiki Air Base, Japan, in support of Keen Sword 25, Oct. 28, 2024. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cedrique Oldaker)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon, assigned to the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, takes off from Japan Air Self-Defense Force Tsuiki Air Base, Japan, in support of Keen Sword 25, Oct. 28, 2024. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cedrique Oldaker)
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force Mitsubishi F-2 taxis by U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 77th Expeditionary Fighter Generation Squadron at Tsuiki Air Base, Japan, during Keen Sword 25, Oct. 28, 2024. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Cedrique Oldaker)
U.S. Air Force F-22A Raptors assigned to the 525th Fighter Generation Squadron, Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, sit on the flightline before takeoff during Keen Sword 25 at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Nyutabaru Air Base, Japan, Oct. 29, 2024. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)
A U.S. Marine Corps F-35B Lightning II assigned to Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 121, Marine Aircraft Group 12, taxis down the runway during Keen Sword 25 at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Nyutabaru Air Base, Japan, Oct. 29, 2024. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance.(U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)
A Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15J Eagle assigned to the 305th Tactical Fighter Squadron, takes off from JASDF Nyutabaru Air Base, Japan in support of Keen Sword 25, Oct. 29, 2024. Keen Sword is a biennial, joint and bilateral field-training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Force personnel, designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)
The exercise was capped off by an “elephant walk” on Nov. 1 of U.S. and Japanese aircraft at Misawa Air Base in the northern part of the country, featuring:
Four USAF F-16 fighters
Four JASDF F-35 fighters
Three JASDF F-2 fighters
One JASDF E-2D airborne early warning aircraft
One JASDF RQ-4B drone
One U.S. Navy C-12 cargo plane
One U.S. Navy P-8 maritime patrol aircraft
Four U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, four Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, four JASDF F-2s, one JASDF E-2D Hawkeye, one JASDF RQ-4B Global Hawk, one U.S. Navy C-12 Huron, and one U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon perform a wing capabilities demonstration in support of Keen Sword 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 1, 2024. The U.S.-Japan alliance is built on shared interests, values and a commitment to freedom and human rights; the alliance is strong and focused on enhancing a security architecture of regional partnerships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Koby Mitchell)
Four U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, four Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, four JASDF F-2s, one JASDF E-2D Hawkeye, one JASDF RQ-4B Global Hawk, one U.S. Navy C-12 Huron, and one U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon perform a wing capabilities demonstration in support of Keen Sword 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 1, 2024. The U.S. is committed to conducting exercises with our Allies and partners, and we will continue to send our most advanced military forces to the region to train alongside partner nation forces to ensure the peace and security of the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo
by Airman 1st Class Patrick Boyle)
Four U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, four Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, four JASDF F-2s, one JASDF E-2D Hawkeye, one JASDF RQ-4B Global Hawk, one U.S. Navy C-12 Huron, and one U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon perform a wing capabilities demonstration in support of Keen Sword 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 1, 2024. The unity of efforts across all warfighting domains by Allies and partners present an integrated deterrent to dissuade or defeat aggression in any form. (U.S. Air Force
photo by Airman 1st Class Koby Mitchell)
From left, U.S. Air Force Col. Paul T. Davidson, 35th Fighter Wing (FW) commander, Chief Master Sgt. David Najera, 35th FW command chief, Japan Air Self-Defense Force Maj. Gen. Fujita Teruaki, 3rd Air Wing (AW) commander, Warrant Officer Yuichi Narazaki, 3rd AW command chief, U.S. Navy Capt. Paul Hockran, Naval Air Facility (NAF) Misawa commanding officer, and Command Master Chief Petty Officer Earl Johnson, NAF Misawa command master chief, stand in front of aircraft assembled for a wing capabilities demonstration in support of Keen Sword 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 1, 2024. The U.S.-Japan alliance is built on shared interests, values and a commitment to freedom and human rights; the alliance is strong and focused on enhancing a security architecture of regional partnerships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman William Rodriguez)
Four U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcons, four Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) F-35A Lightning II Joint Strike Fighters, four JASDF F-2s, one JASDF E-2D Hawkeye, one U.S. Navy C-12 Huron, and one U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon perform a wing capabilities demonstration in support of Keen Sword 25 at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Nov. 1, 2024. The U.S.-Japan alliance is built on shared interests, values and a commitment to freedom and human rights; the alliance is strong and focused on enhancing a security architecture of regional partnerships. (U.S. Air Force photo by Kohei Sugisawa)
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