Two USAF B-1B Lancer bombers; four USMC F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation advanced fighters; four ROKAF F-15K fighters; and four JASDF F-2 fighter jets executed the mission
Taken on Sep. 17, 2017 the impressive pictures in this post feature U.S. Air Force (USAF) and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) aircraft joined Koku Jieitai (Japan Air Self-Defense Force, JASDF) and Republic of Korea Air Force (ROKAF) aircraft conducting a sequenced bilateral show of force over the Korean Peninsula, in response to North Korea’s launch of an intermediate range ballistic missile (IRBM) over Japan on Sep. 14.
As told by Capt. Cassandra Gesecki, U.S. Pacific Command, in the article Japanese, Korean and U.S. Aircraft Conduct Show of Force in Response to North Korean Missile Launch, two B-1B Lancer bombers from Andersen Air Force Base (AFB), Guam; four USMC F-35B Lightning II fifth-generation advanced fighters from Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni, Japan; four ROKAF F-15K fighters; and four JASDF F-2 multirole fighter jets executed this mission.
During the mission, U.S. and ROKAF aircraft flew across the Korean Peninsula and practiced their attack capabilities by releasing live weapons at the Pilsung Range training area. The F-35Bs, B-1B bombers and JASDF fighters flew together over waters near Kyushu, Japan.
U.S. Pacific Command maintains the ability to respond to any threat in the Indo-Asia-Pacific theater at a moment’s notice.
Noteworthy U.S. aircraft often conduct bilateral training missions with Republic of Korea and Japanese air forces in response to North Korea’s ballistic missile and nuclear programs and as a part of the continuing demonstration of ironclad U.S. commitment to its allies.
In fact as we have recently reported, on Sep. 9, 2017 USAF B-1B Lancer bombers assigned to 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron (EBS), deployed from Ellsworth Air Force Base (AFB), South Dakota, integrated in a training sortie with JASDF F-15s over the vicinity of the East China.
Moreover on Aug. 30, 2017 U.S. Marine Corps’ F-35B Lightning II, joined U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancers for the first time in a sequenced bilateral mission with Japan and Republic of Korea air forces in Northeast Asia.
“North Korea’s actions are a threat to our allies, partners and homeland, and their destabilizing actions will be met accordingly,” remarked Gen. Terrence J. O’Shaughnessy, Commander, U.S. Pacific Air Forces after that sortie. Actually that mission was performed in direct response to North Korea’s IRBM launch, which flew directly over northern Japan on Aug. 28.
Photo credit: SSgt. Steven Schneider / U.S. Army and Japan Air Self-Defense Forces
Artwork courtesy of AircraftProfilePrints.com
