MAY 18, 2022 – Airmen assigned to the 35th Fighter Wing showcased their Agile Combat Employment, or ACE, capabilities during readiness exercise Beverly Sunrise 22-04, at Misawa Air Base, and Yokota AB, May 7-13.
Exercise Beverly Sunrise 22-04 tested real-world contingency operations capabilities, significantly focusing on ACE by physically moving personnel and F-16 Fighting Falcons to Yokota AB, a task that was only simulated in previous exercises. Beverly Sunrise 22-04 tested Airmen’s ability to operationalize ACE through the employment of techniques previously associated with special operations forces, but at a much larger scale.
In addition to demonstrating the steadfast U.S. commitment to defend Japan and partner nations in the Indo-Pacific region, exercises like Beverly Sunrise 22-04 ensure Misawa AB fulfills Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. CQ Brown, Jr.’s challenge to accelerate change across the Air Force.
“The goal of the exercise is to test the wing’s ability to respond to and defend themselves from all potential adversaries in the Indo-Pacific theater,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Benjamin Shipley, 35th FW inspector general director of wing inspections. “The 35th FW will continue to exercise the movement of aircraft off station, to multiple austere locations, and advance the multi-capable Airman (MCA) concept.”
Teams of MCA forward deployed to Yokota AB and simulated movement to multiple locations across Japan to further demonstrate mastery of ACE concepts. ACE is designed to generate airpower from multiple, small-footprint locations, complicating adversaries’ decision-making processes and increasing survivability for U.S. and partner-nation assets and personnel.
The exercise culminated in a Misawa AB capabilities demonstration, in which U.S. Air Force, Japan Self-Defense Air Force, and U.S. Navy service members showcased Misawa AB’s ability to generate joint and bilateral airpower in support of the defense of Japan quickly.
The base generated 16 U.S. Air Force F-16CM Fighting Falcons, 12 Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-35A Lightning II joint strike fighters, two JASDF E-2C Hawkeyes, one JASDF CH-47 Chinook, one U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler, one USN C-12 Huron, and one USN P-8 Poseidon.
“The purpose of the capabilities demonstration was to showcase the defense capabilities of the U.S.-Japan alliance, strengthen joint and bilateral operations, and deter against a range of threats from strategic competitors,” said U.S. Air Force Col. Jesse J. Friedel, 35th FW commander.
“We demonstrated our commitment to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with our Japanese counterparts to defend Japan and ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region.”
35th Fighter Wing Public Affairs