Air Force, JASDF forces train together

  • Published
  • By By Maj. Dani Johnson
  • 18th Wing Public Affairs
Kadena Air Base --  Cowboy Picture.  Death 01 Push.  Commit.  Hostile Group.  Splash.  Cowboy Copy Kill.

For many these words may not seem like they work together, but for fighter pilots conducting air-to-air combat, they are the words they live by.

On April 27, these words were heard over the waters near Okinawa not only with American accents, but also with Japanese voices. Kadena Air Base pilots and pilots from the Japanese Air Self Defense Force conducted dissimilar air combat training, or DACT, which is air-to-air training between different types of aircraft.

Two F-22 Raptors deployed from Langley Air Force Base, Va., and two F-15 Eagles from the 18th Operations Group here joined with eight JASDF F-4s and F-15s to enhance interoperability and bilateral relations.

While this was the first time for the Raptors to train with JASDF, Kadena trains with their pilots once every three months, according to Capt. Jeff Hawkins, a F-15 pilot with the 44th Fighter Squadron and one of the pilots who flew in the DACT with the JASDF and Raptors.

The mission for this training was offensive counter-air. While the differences between the cultures are visible on the ground when they are in the air, they each had one goal - to fly, fight and win.

The U.S. aircraft took the offense in the first mission and Japanese led the second, said Lt. Col. Wade Tolliver, F-22 pilot and 27th Fighter Squadron commander. "(JASDF pilots) were very competent, very capable pilots; they did a great job in the training."

One lesson learned, said Colonel Tolliver, is that the JASDF did have the ability to see the Raptor and operate with the aircraft.

"This was the F-22's first employment with the Japanese forces, and we all learned a lot to help us build for the future," said Colonel Tolliver. "This was a great opportunity for both countries to learn about each other and fight together. This training makes the alliance a stronger force here (in the Pacific) and forward."

"The training increases our wartime capabilities," added Captain Hawkins. "By training together, we learn how to support each other."

One area that was a concern prior to the mission, but quickly dissipated, was the possible language barrier.

"Since our deployment here, we've adapted to the local dialect and have become used to the way the Japanese talk," said Colonel Tolliver. "They probably had a more difficult time with my Southern accent than we did with their speaking. The Japanese pilots are held in very high regard and are very professional."

The DACT was one of more than 580 sorties the F-22 has flown since its deployment to Kadena in February. Training together has been a learning experience not just for the Raptors and the Japanese but for local Eagle pilots, as well.

"The Raptor is our only non-legacy aircraft and a new capability; we have to learn work together," said Captain Hawkins. "They (F-22s) can get into areas we aren't able to. Learning how to operate with each other is crucial for the Global War on Terror and future operations."

The one other time the Raptors had trained with another country was when the 27th FS sister squadron, the 94th FS, went to Red Flag at Nellis AFB, Nev., and flew with Australian and British air forces.