Japan arrives for first 2013 RED FLAG-Alaska 13-3

EIELSON AIR FORCE BASE, Alaska -- Japan Air Self Defense Force F-15J Eagles landed here Aug. 4 to participate in this calendar year's first RED FLAG-Alaska.

The F-15Js form part of the JASDF fighter-interceptor aircraft inventory used to engage hostile aircraft. The F-15J was brought to RF-A 13-3 to help JASDF members improve their tactical flying skills and their ability to generate aircraft in a simulated combat environment.

JASDF will use six aircraft supported by more than 150 Japanese airmen.

RF-A, a Pacific Air Forces-sponsored, Joint National Training Capability accredited exercise, enables participating units to sharpen their combat skills by flying simulated combat sorties in a realistic threat environment.

The exercise provides unique opportunities to integrate various forces into joint, coalition and multilateral training from simulated forward operating bases.

Additionally, the training allows participants to exchange tactics, techniques and procedures, as well as improve interoperability.

While aircraft utilize thousands of square miles of training ground within interior Alaska, maintenance and support personnel utilize the opportunity to train to sustain a large-force deployed operation.

Men and women from the U.S. Air Force active duty, Reserve and Air National Guard, U.S. Army, U.S. Navy, Japan, Australia, New Zealand and the Republic of Korea will participate in two weeks of tactical air combat exercises designed to replicate the stress warfighters face during their first 10 combat sorties of a conflict.

More than 60 aircraft and 2,600 personnel at Eielson and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson are participating in RF-A 13-3.