Latest news with #U.S.PacificAirForces
Miami Herald
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Photos Show Allied Jets Escorting US Bombers in New Frontline Drills
The United States conducted a drill with Japan, involving supersonic bombers and stealth fighter jets, to strengthen their deterrence amid an "increasingly severe security environment." Newsweek has emailed the Chinese and Russian defense ministries for comment. The North Korean Embassy in China did not immediately respond to a written request for comment. Under the U.S. maritime containment strategy, Japan forms part of the First Island Chain, aiming to restrict China's military access to the wider Western Pacific Ocean. Japan also faces nuclear and missile threats from North Korea and has a territorial dispute with Russia. Last month, four U.S. B-1B bombers were deployed to northern Japan as part of a Bomber Task Force mission at Misawa Air Base, demonstrating America's commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and to its allies and partners, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said. The deployment of American bombers, which are not nuclear-capable, comes after President Donald Trump questioned the reciprocity of the security treaty with Japan in March, stating, "We have to protect Japan, but under no circumstances do they have to protect us." The U.S. Air Force and the Japan Air Self-Defense Force conducted a bilateral exercise on May 9 in the airspace over waters surrounding Japan, the Japanese Defense Ministry said. Officially released photos show a pair of U.S. B-1B bombers flying in formation with two Japanese F-35A stealth fighter jets over several undisclosed locations in Japanese waters. "This bilateral exercise reaffirms the strong intention between Japan and the United States not to tolerate unilateral changes to the status quo by force," the Japanese Defense Ministry explained, adding that the drill enhanced the alliance's readiness and response capabilities. In a Facebook post, Misawa Air Base said the exercise-described as a "Bomber Task Force joint integration training"-enhanced interoperability and demonstrated what it called a "united commitment" by the U.S. and Japan to regional stability and global security. The B-1B bomber has the largest payload of conventional weapons in the U.S. Air Force inventory, capable of carrying up to 75,000 pounds of bombs and missiles. It has a top speed of Mach 1.2, traveling faster than the speed of sound, with an intercontinental flight range. Japan has acquired F-35A fighter jets from the U.S., its treaty ally, to bolster its air power. The aircraft are currently stationed at Misawa Air Base on the Pacific coast and at Komatsu Air Base, which faces the Sea of Japan (known as the East Sea in South Korea) to the west. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said: "[Bomber Task Force] 25-2 showcases Allied strength and unity to deter aggression by showcasing its ironclad commitment to allies and partners while promoting peace, stability, homeland defense and keeping our forces mission-ready." Japan's defense white paper 2024 read: "The international community has entered a new era of crisis. It is now facing its greatest trial since the end of World War II. The existing order is being seriously challenged. Japan finds itself in the most severe and complex security environment of the post-war era." It remains to be seen whether the U.S. will deploy additional military aircraft to Japan. In addition to the bombers, the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Marine Corps recently deployed their stealth fighter jets-the F-35A and F-35B, respectively-to the Northeast Asian ally. Related Articles Biggest Arms Deal in History a Win for TrumpIran Prepares Forces for War As Doubt Hangs Over US Nuclear TalksHouthis Send Warning on Trump Middle East VisitPope Leo Issues Five-Word Message to the US 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
30-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
Map Shows Triple US Spy Flights Near China
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A map by Newsweek shows three United States military aircraft, deployed at a front-line base in the Western Pacific Ocean, conducting spy flights near China on Tuesday. Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Pacific Air Forces for comment by email. The Chinese Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to a Newsweek written request for comment. Why It Matters The U.S. military has frequently deployed its spy aircraft to collect intelligence near the Chinese coastline, prompting strong objections from Beijing, which has demanded Washington put an end to what it called dangerous close-in reconnaissance around China's airspace and waters. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces previously told Newsweek it flies "hundreds of sorties" per day for training and integration missions, supporting a free and open Indo-Pacific. "We reserve the right to navigate under international norms," the Hawaii-headquartered command said. A United States Air Force RC-135S Cobra Ball reconnaissance aircraft descends toward the runway at Travis Air Force Base in California on May 23, 2020. A United States Air Force RC-135S Cobra Ball reconnaissance aircraft descends toward the runway at Travis Air Force Base in California on May 23, 2020. Senior Airman Amy Younger/U.S. Air Force Most of the American spy planes operating near China are deployed on the Japanese island of Okinawa, which is part of the First Island Chain, a U.S. containment strategy aimed at restricting China's military access to the Pacific Ocean using U.S.-aligned territories. What To Know According to data captured by the aircraft tracking service Flightradar24, a trio of U.S. Air Force reconnaissance aircraft, which included an RC-135S Cobra Ball, RC-135U Combat Sent, and RC-135W Rivet Joint, departed from Kadena Air Base on Okinawa. The Cobra Ball is designed for gathering data on ballistic missiles, a U.S. Air Force fact sheet reads. The Combat Sent can locate and identify military radar signals, while the Rivet Joint detects, identifies and geolocates signals throughout the electromagnetic spectrum. The U.S. spy planes were tracked operating over the contested South China Sea and the Luzon Strait between the northern Philippines and southern Taiwan, a Newsweek map shows. Both countries, which are U.S. allies and partners, are part of the First Island Chain. Communist China has threatened Taiwan with the use of force, claiming the island is part of its territory, despite never having ruled it. Meanwhile, Beijing has territorial disputes with Manila, which has signed a defense treaty with Washington, over the South China Sea. The triple American spy flights come as a U.S.-Philippine war game, code-named Balikatan 2025, is being held in the Southeast Asian country, while a Chinese naval strike group led by the aircraft carrier CNS Shandong transited the Luzon Strait twice last week. What People Are Saying The U.S. Air Force says: "The RC-135S, equipped with a sophisticated array of optical and electronic sensors, recording media, and communications equipment, is a national asset uniquely suited to provide America's leaders and defense community with vital information that cannot be obtained by any other source." Mao Ning, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, previously said: "U.S. aircraft and warships frequently conduct close-in reconnaissance around China, which seriously threatens China's national security and undermines regional peace and stability. The Chinese side has repeatedly voiced our grave concerns. The U.S. needs to put an immediate end to such provocations." What Happens Next It is unclear whether the Chinese military dispatched fighter aircraft to intercept the three American spy planes. The U.S. military has previously accused a Chinese fighter jet of performing an "unnecessarily aggressive maneuver" near an American reconnaissance plane.
Miami Herald
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
US Bombers Show Up on Doorstep of Russia's Far East Flank
The United States has stationed a group of four supersonic B-1B bombers in northern Japan, which is located close to Russia's Far East, to "discourage aggression." The deployment, known as the Bomber Task Force mission, enables the U.S. bomber fleet to maintain proficiency, enhance readiness, and strengthen integration with other American or coalition forces, the U.S. Eighth Air Force said in response to a Newsweek email inquiry. Newsweek has also reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment by email. Japan, a key American treaty ally in Northeast Asia, is part of the First Island Chain under a U.S. maritime containment strategy, seeking to restrict Russia's military access to the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. military has deployed multiple air, ground and naval units across Japan. The U.S. bomber force, consisting of the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52H Stratofortress, has been conducting Bomber Task Force missions through rotational deployments at American and allied air bases in the Pacific theater since 2018, strengthening deterrence in the region. The Russian military operates near Japan frequently, where the two countries are separated by the sea. From April 2024 to March 2025, the Japanese fighter jets were scrambled a total of 237 times against Russian aircraft that were approaching the nation's sovereign airspace. In a video released by the U.S. Pacific Air Forces on Wednesday, four B-1B bombers were seen parking at Misawa Air Base in Japan for the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission on April 18. The first pair of B-1B bombers arrived at the air base, which is located in the northern part of the Japanese main island of Honshu, on April 15 from their home station at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. This marked the first rotational Bomber Task Force mission in Japan. Three days later, the second pair of B-1B bombers assigned to Dyess Air Force Base were tracked flying off the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East and heading toward Misawa Air Base. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces confirmed their deployment in Japan on Wednesday. "The ability to operate from multiple locations gives our bomber forces a level of flexibility and allows commanders' to remain unpredictable," the U.S. Eighth Air Force said, adding that each Bomber Task Force mission's length and the number of bombers can be changed. On Thursday, one of the deployed B-1B bombers participated in a large-scale training near the Japanese island of Okinawa with American and Japanese military aircraft, which aimed at strengthening their deterrence and response capabilities, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said. The B-1B bomber can carry up to 75,000 pounds of bombs and missiles, which is the largest payload of conventional weapons in the U.S. Air Force inventory. It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.2, traveling faster than the speed of sound, with an intercontinental flight range. The U.S. Eighth Air Force said: "We can rapidly deploy and operate from traditional and non-traditional operating locations with varying levels of capacity and support. Any base our bombers do operate out of, allows us to test concepts and develop our tactics, techniques, and procedures to move faster, smarter, and more effectively." The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said: "Bomber Task Force deployments familiarize aircrew with air bases and operations in different Geographic Combatant Commands' areas of operations. This deployment to Japan showcases the United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and our Allies and partners." It remains to be seen where the Japan-based B-1B bombers will conduct further training and exercises during this Bomber Task Force mission. Meanwhile, up to six B-2 bombers are deployed at Diego Garcia, an Indian Ocean island, amid rising tensions in the Middle East. Related Articles US Doubles Stealth Jets Presence Near ChinaUS Prepares South Korea To Face Nuclear Attack by NorthSatellite Image Shows Iran Reinforcing Nuclear ComplexChina Deploys Aircraft Carrier Group in Warning to US and Ally 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Newsweek
25-04-2025
- Politics
- Newsweek
US Bombers Show Up on Doorstep of Russia's Far East Flank
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The United States has stationed a group of four supersonic B-1B bombers in northern Japan, which is located close to Russia's Far East, to "discourage aggression." The deployment, known as the Bomber Task Force mission, enables the U.S. bomber fleet to maintain proficiency, enhance readiness, and strengthen integration with other American or coalition forces, the U.S. Eighth Air Force said in response to a Newsweek email inquiry. Newsweek has also reached out to the Russian Defense Ministry for comment by email. Why It Matters Japan, a key American treaty ally in Northeast Asia, is part of the First Island Chain under a U.S. maritime containment strategy, seeking to restrict Russia's military access to the Pacific Ocean. The U.S. military has deployed multiple air, ground and naval units across Japan. The U.S. bomber force, consisting of the B-1B Lancer, B-2 Spirit, and B-52H Stratofortress, has been conducting Bomber Task Force missions through rotational deployments at American and allied air bases in the Pacific theater since 2018, strengthening deterrence in the region. The Russian military operates near Japan frequently, where the two countries are separated by the sea. From April 2024 to March 2025, the Japanese fighter jets were scrambled a total of 237 times against Russian aircraft that were approaching the nation's sovereign airspace. What To Know In a video released by the U.S. Pacific Air Forces on Wednesday, four B-1B bombers were seen parking at Misawa Air Base in Japan for the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission on April 18. Four United States Air Force B-1B bombers park at Misawa Air Base in Japan on April 18, 2025, for the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission. Four United States Air Force B-1B bombers park at Misawa Air Base in Japan on April 18, 2025, for the Bomber Task Force 25-2 mission. Airman 1st Class Mattison Cole/U.S. Air Force The first pair of B-1B bombers arrived at the air base, which is located in the northern part of the Japanese main island of Honshu, on April 15 from their home station at Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. This marked the first rotational Bomber Task Force mission in Japan. Three days later, the second pair of B-1B bombers assigned to Dyess Air Force Base were tracked flying off the Kamchatka Peninsula in the Russian Far East and heading toward Misawa Air Base. The U.S. Pacific Air Forces confirmed their deployment in Japan on Wednesday. "The ability to operate from multiple locations gives our bomber forces a level of flexibility and allows commanders' to remain unpredictable," the U.S. Eighth Air Force said, adding that each Bomber Task Force mission's length and the number of bombers can be changed. On Thursday, one of the deployed B-1B bombers participated in a large-scale training near the Japanese island of Okinawa with American and Japanese military aircraft, which aimed at strengthening their deterrence and response capabilities, the U.S. Pacific Air Forces said. The B-1B bomber can carry up to 75,000 pounds of bombs and missiles, which is the largest payload of conventional weapons in the U.S. Air Force inventory. It has a maximum speed of Mach 1.2, traveling faster than the speed of sound, with an intercontinental flight range. What People Are Saying The U.S. Eighth Air Force said: "We can rapidly deploy and operate from traditional and non-traditional operating locations with varying levels of capacity and support. Any base our bombers do operate out of, allows us to test concepts and develop our tactics, techniques, and procedures to move faster, smarter, and more effectively." The U.S. Pacific Air Forces said: "Bomber Task Force deployments familiarize aircrew with air bases and operations in different Geographic Combatant Commands' areas of operations. This deployment to Japan showcases the United States' commitment to the Indo-Pacific region and our Allies and partners." What Happens Next It remains to be seen where the Japan-based B-1B bombers will conduct further training and exercises during this Bomber Task Force mission. Meanwhile, up to six B-2 bombers are deployed at Diego Garcia, an Indian Ocean island, amid rising tensions in the Middle East.
