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A US Air Force B-1B Lancer flew from Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, to the vicinity of Japan to conduct integration training with the Koku-Jieitai, or Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF).
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B-1s are deployed to Guam from Ellsworth AFB to conduct long-range, long-duration Bomber Task Force missions, which give aircrews opportunities to train alongside allies and partners in a joint environment and build interoperability to bolster their ability to support a free and open Indo-Pacific.
During the mission, Koku-Jietai F-2s integrated with the bomber in the vicinity of Japan to enhance bilateral interoperability and mutual readiness between the US and Japan.
Lieutenant Colonel Lincoln Coleman, Commander of the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron said, “The value these sorties have on our team’s confidence and readiness is immense. We know these missions make us more prepared, more agile and most importantly, more lethal.”
JASDF Lieutenant Colonel Shirota Takamichi, 204th Fighter Squadron commander added, “To maintain and strengthen a free and open Indo-Pacific, we, Koku-Jieitai, continue to seek out every opportunity to enhance our capabilities and operations with our Allied teams.”
In line with the National Defense Strategy’s objectives of strategic predictability and operational unpredictability, the US Air Force transitioned its force employment model to enable strategic bombers to operate forward in the Indo-Pacific region from a broader array of overseas and continental US locations with greater operational resilience.
“Regular bi-lateral exercises further enhance each teams’ capabilities and interoperability,” LTCOL Takamichi said.
The flexibility and dependability of the multi-mission B-1 help make it the backbone of America's long-range bomber force. It can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time.
Stephen Kuper
Steve has an extensive career across government, defence industry and advocacy, having previously worked for cabinet ministers at both Federal and State levels.
