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 aircraft takes off.A KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 909th Air Refueling squadron takes off for Exercise Southern Beach at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 19, 2023. Exercise Southern Beach is a locally organized bilateral training exercise that enhances interoperability with the opportunity for 18th Wing and Japan Air Self-Defense Force units to practice mission planning, flying and debriefing together. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)
                
                Photo Details /
                        Download Hi-Res

US, Japanese forces team up for exercise Southern BeachPublished Jan. 26, 2023
                    
                    By Airman 1st Class Luis Rios-Calderon
                    
                    
                    18th Wing Public Affairs
            **KADENA AIR BASE, Japan (AFNS) --**Airmen and Sailors from **Kadena Air Base**teamed up in the skies near Okinawa with Japan Air Self Defense Force personnel during the latest iteration of the bilateral Southern Beach exercise, Jan. 19. “Southern Beach is a bilateral exercise between U.S. personnel from Kadena Air Base and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Sebastian Coburn, 18th Operations Support Squadron dissimilar air combat-training wing chief.

Southern Beach provides U.S. and Japanese personnel the opportunity to integrate as an allied force to better understand each other’s strengths, practice fluidity and execute the mission of maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

There were a multitude of aircraft from different units coming together. Aircraft from KadenaAB included **F-15C Eagles**,**KC-135 Stratotanker**,**E-3 Sentry**,**HH-60 Pave Hawks**and U.S. Navy’s**P-8A Poseidon**. Japan Air Self-Defense Force aircraft included the F-2, the F-15J and the E-767.

The Southern Beach exercise involves close coordination between all forces involved, from mission planning, execution and debrief.

While U.S. Air Force and Japan Air Self-Defense Force often train together in similar Southern Beach exercises, the inclusion of the U.S. Navy’s P-8A added a unique dimension to this event.

Airmen remove a fuel tank from a fighter jet.U.S. Air Force Airmen with the 67th Aircraft Maintenance Unit detach an empty fuel tank from an F-15C Eagle in preparation for Exercise Southern Beach at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 19, 2023. Exercise Southern Beach is a large-scale Japan-U.S. joint training effort. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    A pilot prepares for flight.Capt. Ricky Laughlin, 67th Fighter Squadron F-15C Eagle pilot, prepares for takeoff for Exercise Southern Beach at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 19, 2023. Southern Beach is a continual effort to enhance interoperability between U.S. Forces and host nation partners. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res
    
    An aircraft take offs.An F-15C Eagle assigned to the 67th Fighter Squadron takes off for Exercise Southern Beach at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Jan. 19, 2023. Bilateral training exercises like Southern Beach help build trusting relationships among nations, ensuring allies can come together to effectively respond to demanding scenarios and execute high-end missions in defense of a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Luis E. Rios Calderon)
            
            
            Photo Details /
                Download Hi-Res

Patrol Squadron Ten (VP-10) participated in exercise Southern Beach with a P-8A Poseidon loaded with two AGM-84Ds.

"Exercising the full spectrum of maritime patrol in a joint bi-lateral exercise like this underpins the importance of conducting air interdiction and maritime strike,” saidU.S. Navy Cmdr. Marc Hines, Task Group 72.2 and VP-10 commander.

Additionally, Hines said, "the relationships we create from mission planning to execution are invaluable in strengthening our international and joint partnerships, ensures a free and open Indo-Pacific.”  The training not only increases bilateral response capability but also serve as demonstration of the mutual U.S. and Japanese commitment to maintaining regional stability. In a recent statement released after a meeting between U.S. President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, the two nations said the U.S.-Japan Alliance remains the cornerstone of peace, security, and prosperity of the Indo-Pacific. The statement added that the U.S. and Japan will continue to deepen cooperation to addressa range of emerging security challenges.

While such cooperation is nothing new to the men and women serving at the keystone of the Pacific, it takes renewed significance as the U.S. and Japan reaffirm their close ties amid the modern challenges facing regional security.

“President Biden’s meeting with Prime Minister Kishida, as well as exercises like Southern Beach show how closely we are working with our Japanese partners,” Coburn said. “The U.S. Air Force and JASDF have always worked very closely with each other, and I’d like to see that continue.”LR 



USAF 



AF 



Air Force 



Navy 



PACAF 



Southern Beach 



exercise 



readiness 



Kadena AB 



Japan 



JASDF 



Japan Air Self Defense Force 



18th OSS 



F-15C Eagles 



KC-135 Stratotanker 



E-3 Sentry 



HH-60 Pave Hawks 



P-8A Poseidon 



F-2 



F-15J 



E-767 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