US military stages biggest EVER ‘elephant walk' with supersonic jets, helicopters & drones in show of force to China
The show of power, dubbed "Elephant Walk", was formed using 53 US military aircraft and was put up in a display
at th
e US military base in Kadena Air Base
in
Okinawa
,
Japan.
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U.S. Air Force, U.S. Navy, and U.S. Marine Corps, along with U.S. Army Patriot missile batteries line up on the runway for an elephant walk
Credit: Public Affairs Journeyman / Snr Airman Tyley Meyer
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The show of power, dubbed "Elephant Walk", was formed using 53 US military aircraft
Credit: Public Affairs Journeyman / Snr Airman Tyley Meyer
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Pictures of the formation, which was put up just 400miles off the coast of China, captured multiple
They were put behind
Attack drones and naval aircraft were a part of the formation, while larger aircraft were staged behind the fighter jets' formation.
The military spectacle featured a wide array of advanced military aircraft, including 24 US Air Force F-35As, eight U.S. Air Force F-15Es, six HH-60 Jolly Green IIs choppers.
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Two MQ-9 Reapers, two MC-130J Commando IIS and six KC-135 Stratotankers were also present.
The formation was guarded by two US Army MIM-104 Patriot air defence systems.
US military's 18th Wing Command Chief Master Sergeant Brandon Wolfgang said: An elephant walk like this sends a message you can't ignore—it shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that we're united, capable, and ready.
Meanwhile, 18th Wing Commander Brigadier General Nicholas Evans said the Air Force's ability to 'project airpower' alongside its allies 'demonstrates our commitment to the alliance with
Japan
and to maintaining stability across the Indo-Pacific.'
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Most read in The US Sun
The military formation is understood to be one of the largest in recent history.
In 2020, a 52-aircraft formation was put up for display at Hill Air Force Base in Utah.
China's Taiwan invasion plan could trigger WW3 if US gets involved, expert warns
It comes after a top US admiral has warned that
The chilling warning comes amid fears that
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Commander of the US Indo-Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Paparo, raised the alarm at the McCain Institute's annual Sedona Forum in
The admiral said that while the US would defeat
Paparo said: 'The
But he added: 'Our trajectory on . . . really every force element that is salient is a bad trajectory.'
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China has ramped up its production of weapons including warships and submarines - and the US doesn't seem to be able to keep up.
According to Paparo, for every 1.8 warships made in the US each year China builds an impressive six.
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China's aircraft carrier Liaoning takes part in a military drill
Credit: Reuters
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China's Nanchang Q-5 'Fantans' fighter jets
Credit: Alamy
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And for every 1.4 submarines made in the US, it builds two.
The warning comes as China continues to expand its military exercises around Taiwan, as fears of an invasion mount.
Paparo fuelled fears of an attack, saying that
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This comes as Taiwan reported at least 19 Chinese warships as well as the large Shandong aircraft carrier patrolling nearby last month.
When asked whether the US would support military intervention in Taiwan, he responded: 'A lesson in
But if China continues to ramp up its weapons production the US may not be able to protect the island.
Why does China want to invade Taiwan?
TAIWAN insists it is an independent nation after splitting from mainland China amid civil war in 1949.
But China claims Taiwan remains a part of its territory with which it must eventually be reunified - and has not ruled out the use of force to take the island and place it under Beijing's control.
The island, which is roughly 100 miles from the coast of south-east China, sees itself as distinct from the Chinese mainland, with its own constitution and democratically-elected leaders.
Taiwan sits in the so-called "first island chain", which includes a list of US-friendly territories that are crucial to Washington's foreign policy in the region.
This also puts it in an ideal situation to slow a Chinese attack on the West.
And with tensions between the two nations high, Taiwan is likely to aid China's enemy if it means keeping its independence.
Taiwan's economy is another factor in China's desperation to reclaim the land.
If China takes the island, it could be freer to project power in the western Pacific and rival the US, thanks to much of the world's electronics being made in Taiwan.
This would allow Beijing to have control over an industry that drives the global economy.
China insists that its intentions are peaceful, but President Xi Jinping has also used threats towards the small island nation.
And China may have more weapons than previously thought.
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The shocking pictures showed six nuke boats massed at a Chinese base.
These included two of the deadly Type 091 submarines, two Type 093A and one chillingly unidentified submarine.
The base - dubbed the First Submarine Base - is located 18km east of Qingdao in the Yellow Sea, meaning there's easy access to the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan.
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Australian independent naval analyst Alex Luck posted the shocking images to X.
In the post, he said that five nuclear-powered subs seen on the base were conventionally armed.
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Tensions between China and neighbouring Taiwan have soared in recent years as the threat of war looms
Credit: Getty
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Taiwanese tanks parade the streets in Taipei
Credit: AFP
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