An F-15 with the 67th Fighter Squadron gets refueled during the Keen Sword exercise here at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Dec. 8. Keen Sword is designed to allow the United States and Japan to practice and evaluate the coordination procedures and interoperability elements required to effectively and mutually respond to the defense of Japan, or to a regional crisis or contingency situation in the Asia-Pacific region, while building bilateral confidences and working relationships. ( U.S. Air Force photo/ Staff Sgt. Lakisha A.Croley)

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Total force refueling keeps Keen Sword flying

Published Dec. 9, 2010
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan -- Airmen from the 185th Air Refueling Squadron, an Oklahoma Air National Guard unit from Tinker Air Force Base, Okla., provide joint service refueling to Navy and Marine F/A-18 Hornets, Air Force F-15 Eagles and the Navy EA-6B Prowler during Keen Sword 2011, Dec. 8.

Scheduled for December 3-10, Keen Sword 2011 is the tenth joint-bilateral field training exercise since 1986 involving Japan Self-Defense Forces and United States military forces and will cap the 50th anniversary of the Japan-U.S. alliance as an "alliance of equals".

Click here to view a photo slideshow of refueling operations during Keen Sword 2011.