Bilateral training hones U.S., JASDF capabilities

  • Published
  • By Tech. Sgt. Rey Ramon
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --  Aircraft took to the skies to practice defending Okinawa from simulated enemies during joint bilateral training here Feb. 22-26.

The training involved a variety of aircraft from the Navy, Marines, Army, and Japanese Air Self Defense Force and was aimed at training personnel for joint planning and execution of missions in simulated hostile scenarios.

Kadena's 67th and 44th Fighter Squadrons joined forces with the JASDF 201st and 204th Fighter Squadrons for the first time, to make up the "blue air."

The 13th Fighter Squadron out of Misawa Air Base, Japan; F-15Es from the 391st Fighter Squadron from Mountain Home AFB, Idaho currently deployed to Kunsan AB, Republic of Korea, and F-16s from the 80th Fighter Squadrons at Kunsan AB, ROK also made up the blue team whose goal was to prevent the aggressor, or "red air," from entering Okinawa's airspace.

The aggressor team consisted of F-16s from Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska; a combination of aircraft from Kadena, the Navy VAQ-136 Prowlers from Atsugi, Japan; and C-130s from the 36th Airlift Squadron, Yokota AB, Japan.

"We combined all our assets, alongside with JASDF, with the common goal of practicing the defense of Okinawa," said Maj. Andrew Avery, 18th Operations Support Squadron F-15 pilot and part of the blue team. "Hopefully we can unify our efforts into a more formidable force against the aggressors."

The unique training opportunity allowed all sides to learn new tactics, techniques, and procedures with the goal of enhancing the common defense of Okinawa.

"We're learning a lot of new things about tactics," said Maj. Avery. "And effectively find ways of developing ourselves a little bit differently than what we're normally trained to."
The primary purpose of the aggressors was to train and validate tactics using the latest technology and weapon systems. They're experts at what they do-training American and allied forces against adversary tactics.

"We have gained a significant amount of experience by training alongside other Air Force, sister service, and JASDF units all focused on one common objective ... defense of Japan," said Col. Ronald Banks, 18th Operations Group commander. "This has not happened before to this scale in a simulated air war. Likewise, other units have come to Okinawa to gain the same experience while fighting at Okinawa."

Col. Banks added that the joint bilateral training allowed the U.S. and JASDF to improve their interoperability by flying side-by-side.

"The JASDF realized the benefit of this training and have asked us to continue that type of training, which only further strengthens our alliance and friendship," he added.