Skip to main content (Press Enter).
 News
    
        Photos

    Week in Photos

    Air Force TV

    Commentaries

    Features

    Art

    About Us
    
        Air Force Senior Leaders
    
        SECAF

    CSAF

    CMSAF

    Biographies

    Fact Sheets

    SECAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library
    
        CSAF Leadership Library 2022

    CSAF Leadership Library 2021

    CSAF Reading List Pre-2020 Archive
    
        2018 CSAF Reading List

    2017 CSAF Reading List

    2016 CSAF Reading List

    CSAF Leadership Library 2023

    CMSAF Leadership Library

    50 Years of the CMSAF

    Adjunct Professors

    Air Force Strategic Documents

    Arctic Strategy

    Empowered Airmen

    State Licensure Portability

    Careers

    AF Federal Advisory Committees

    AF 75th Anniversary

    Policy Updates

    AF Content Management

    Contact Us

    AF Sites
    
        Site RegistrationU.S. Air Force LogoAir Force

        Policy UpdatesNewsroomReoptimizationBIOGRAPHIESAF Senior Leaders      An F-35 Lightning II pokes its nose out of a covered parking spotAn F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 355th Fighter Squadron, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, prepares to taxi during a no-notice agile combat employment exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 22, 2023. The exercise tested Kadena AB’s ability to rapidly generate airpower to defend Japan and ensure regional stability. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Raymond Geoffroy)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

Kadena AB generates airpower in ACE exercisePublished Sept. 26, 2023
                    
                    By Tech. Sgt. Micaiah Anthony
                    
                    
                    18th Wing Public Affairs
            **KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --**The U.S. Air Force’s ability to rapidly generate airpower at a moment’s notice was put to the test at **Kadena Air Base**, when the **18th Wing** conducted a no-notice **agile combat employment** exercise Sept. 22.

Airmen from the 18th Wing partnered with deployed Airmen from **Seymour Johnson Air Force Base**, North Carolina, **Mountain Home AFB**, Idaho, and **Eielson AFB**, Alaska, to launch multiple **F-15C/D Eagles**, **F-15E Strike Eagles** and **F-35A Lightning IIs** without prior notice to test the base’s ability to rapidly generate and disperse airpower.

“ACE relies on our team’s ability to quickly mobilize our aircraft from large, centralized hub bases to networks of smaller, dispersed, spoke locations to increase survivability and complicate potential adversary targeting,” said Col. Joshua Lundeby, 18th Wing deputy commander. “Through training like this, we remain postured to deter, deny and defeat any threat to regional stability, our nation, and its allies and partners.

Airmen were tasked with getting Kadena AB’s diverse fleet of fighter aircraft prepped and ready to launch as though they were being dispersed to spoke locations. Once the fighters taxied, or launched for regularly scheduled training sorties, they were considered ‘departed’ for purposes of evaluation.

The exercise showcased the capabilities of U.S. Airmen across the spectrum of operational, maintenance and support specializations.An F-15E Strike Eagle pilot assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron taxis down the runway during a no-notice fighter dispersal exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 22, 2023.An F-15E Strike Eagle pilot assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron taxis down the runway during a no-notice fighter dispersal exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 22, 2023. The exercise strengthened the 18th Wing’s ability to swiftly mobilize airpower in response to a contingency scenario, ensuring the continued defense of Japan and the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, taxis as another F-15E assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., soars over Kadena Air Base, Japan during a no-notice agile combat employment exercise, Sept. 22, 2023.A U.S. Air Force F-15E Strike Eagle assigned to the 391st Fighter Squadron, Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, taxis as another F-15E assigned to the 336th Fighter Squadron, Seymour Johnson AFB, N.C., soars over Kadena Air Base, Japan during a no-notice agile combat employment exercise, Sept. 22, 2023. Airmen practiced rapidly launching Kadena AB’s F-15C/D Eagles, as well as F-35As Lightning IIs and F-15E currently deployed to the base. (U.S. Air Force photo by Lt. Col. Raymond Geoffroy)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 336th Fighter Generation Squadron recovers an F-15E Strike Eagle after a training sortie during a no-notice fighter dispersal exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 22, 2023.A U.S. Air Force Airman assigned to the 336th Fighter Generation Squadron recovers an F-15E Strike Eagle after a training sortie during a no-notice fighter dispersal exercise at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Sept. 22, 2023. The exercise strengthened the 18th Wing’s ability to swiftly mobilize airpower in response to a contingency scenario, ensuring the continued defense of Japan and the Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Jessi Roth)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
 “This wasn’t a small feat, we brought highly skilled Airmen from four different fighter maintenance units across the globe and asked them to tackle safe, compliant and efficient ACE,” said Col. Randy Schwinler, 18th Maintenance Group commander. “I am extremely proud of their performance.” 

As the Keystone of the Pacific, Kadena AB’s strategic size and location make it a pivotal installation for ensuring the defense of Japan and a free and open Indo-Pacific. Through realistic training like this exercise, Kadena AB Airmen are honing skills necessary to keep pace with evolving threats to the U.S. and its allies and partners.

“Exercises like this enable decentralized execution by empowering our Airmen to refine their abilities and provides them with opportunities to innovate or adapt new techniques while increasing efficiency within mission command,” Schwinler added.

Kadena AB is currently hosting deployed fighter units from across the Air Force to ensure uninterrupted fighter coverage at the base through the phased departure of Kadena AB’s venerable fleet of F-15C/D Eagles.

“The array of fighters in this theater provides us with more opportunities to integrate with our regional partners,” said Col. Henry Schantz, 18th Operations Group commander. “Pairing those distinct capabilities with ACE gives us an increased strategic advantage, ultimately strengthening our combat capability in defense of Japan and the Indo-Pacific region.”LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Ace 



exercise 



Kadena AB 



PACAF 



18th Wing 



Seymour Johnson AFB 



Eielson AFB 



Mountain Home AFB 



F-15 Eagle 



F-15E Strike Eagle 



F-35A Lightning II Featured News
        Senior Leader Priorities
                DAF leaders talk budget, reoptimizing the force
                    
                    DAF leaders speak at National Character and Leadership Symposium
                    
                    DAF members recognized during BEYA STEM awards
                    
                    DAF senior enlisted advisors discuss Airmen, Guardians in the fight
                    
                    SecAF Kendall AFA Warfare Symposium Q&A: Reoptimizing for Great Power CompetitionInnovation
                AFWERX director discusses role of tech startups, quick innovation in Great Power Competition
                    
                    DAF delivers lethality at the speed of data during Project Convergence Capstone 4
                    
                    DAF welcomes industry partners to HQ development program
                    
                    DAF announces Spark Tank 2024 finalists
                    
                    Chief Digital, Artificial Intelligence Office to host hackathon in HawaiiMAJCOM News
                Safety enterprise announces new mission, vision, goals in 2024 strategic plan
                    
                    Air Combat Command welcomes new commander
                    
                    USAFE-AFAFRICA commander discusses Integrated Air, Missile Defense during Munich Security Conference
                    
                    Flosi to AFMC family: Embrace change, make every day count
                    
                    AMC rises to increasing global tension
 Quick Links
AccessibilityContact UsEqual OpportunityFOIA | Privacy | Section 508Information QualityInspector GeneralJAG Court-Martial DocketLink DisclaimerNo FEAR ActOpen GovernmentOSI Tip LinePlain LanguageQuestionsResilienceRSSSite MapVeterans Crisis LineCareers
Join the Air ForceAir Force BenefitsAir Force CareersAir Force ReserveAir National GuardCivilian ServiceConnect
            Get Social with Us
            
            Official United States Air Force Website
    Hosted by Defense Media Activity - WEB.mil