Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

U.S. Air Force Airmen assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron perform pre-flight checks of a KC-135 Stratotanker in support of Freedom Edge 25 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 16, 2025. Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States executed the third iteration of exercise Freedom Edge, demonstrating a new era of trilateral cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 9 taxis before takeoff in support of Freedom Edge 25 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 16, 2025. Freedom Edge demonstrates the trilateral defense cooperation’s ability to achieve peace through strength on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jamal Berry II)

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Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Aerial Refueling Squadron takes off in support of Freedom Edge 25 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 16, 2025. Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States executed the third iteration of exercise Freedom Edge, demonstrating a new era of trilateral cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jamal Berry II)

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Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker 909th Aerial Refueling Squdron takes off in support of Freedom Edge 25 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 16, 2025. Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States executed the third iteration of exercise Freedom Edge, demonstrating a new era of trilateral cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jamal Berry II)

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Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed to Kadena Air Base, takes off in support of Freedom Edge 25 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 16, 2025. Freedom Edge demonstrates the trilateral defense cooperation’s ability to achieve peace through strength on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jamal Berry II)

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Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed to Kadena Air Base, takes off in support of Freedom Edge 25 at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 16, 2025. Freedom Edge demonstrates the trilateral defense cooperation’s ability to achieve peace through strength on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Jamal Berry II)

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Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed to Kadena Air Base, departs after receiving fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, during Freedom Edge 25 over the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 16, 2025. Freedom Edge demonstrates the trilateral defense cooperation’s ability to achieve peace through strength on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

A U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 355th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed to Kadena Air Base, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, during Freedom Edge 25 over the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 16, 2025. Freedom Edge demonstrates the trilateral defense cooperation’s ability to achieve peace through strength on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

A U.S. Navy P-8 Poseidon assigned to Patrol Squadron (VP) 9, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling Squadron, during Freedom Edge 25 over the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 16, 2025. Freedom Edge demonstrates trilateral defense cooperation’s ability to achieve peace through strength on the Korean Peninsula and in the Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton)

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Kadena’s KC-135s fuel Freedom Edge 25

Published Sept. 21, 2025
By Staff Sgt. Gary Hilton and Senior Airman Jamal Berry
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --

U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy assets support the third iteration of Freedom Edge at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sep. 16, 2025. Japan, the Republic of Korea, and the United States executed the exercise, demonstrating a new era of trilateral cooperation to ensure peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the Indo-Pacific.