Category: Indo-Pacific

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STRATCOM commander immerses in Ellsworth’s Bomber Task Force 24-6 while visiting Guam

Source: United States Strategic Command

ANDERSEN AIR FORCE, Guam  –  

Gen. Anthony Cotton, commander of the U.S. Strategic Command, visited the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron currently deployed to Andersen Air Force Base in support of Bomber Task Force 24-6.

During the visit, Cotton received an update on BTF objectives and interacted with Ellsworth AFB personnel who shared perspective on their critical roles in support of the mission.

During the immersion, Cotton coined exemplary performers including Capt. Marc Makens, Technical Sgt. Scott Morrow, Senior Airman Harley Hudspeth, Senior Airman Nicholas Early, and Airman First Class Jason Brown.

As the commander of U.S. Strategic Command, one of Cotton’s primary focuses include integrated deterrence and communication across domains, joint functions, adjacent commands, and Allies and partners.

“Today’s contested environment is a call for our military forces to train and demonstrate commitment to our Allies and partners through global employment,” said Cotton. “What the 37th is doing in Guam is a testament as to how the bomber mission continues to support National Security objectives, provide stability, and strengthen deterrence capabilities through partnership.”

BTF 24-6 commenced on May 24, to support Pacific Air Forces’ training efforts with Allies, partners, and joint forces while conducting deterrence missions to reinforce the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.

“It’s an honor to showcase the lethality the 28th Bomb Wing brings to the joint force and how our presence contributes to the assurance and deterrence objectives in the Indo-Pacific region,” said Lt. Col. Christian Hoover, 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron commander. “None of this would be possible without the professionalism and excellence of the Airmen assigned to the 37th EBS.”

Bomber missions familiarize aircrew with air bases and operations in different Geographic Combatant Commands areas of operation allowing opportunities to train and work with our Allies and partners.

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Bomber crew earns AFGSC General Curtis E. LeMay award

Source: United States Strategic Command

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  –  

 A B-52H Stratofortress bomber crew recently earned the Air Force Global Strike Command General Curtis E. LeMay award for the outstanding bomber crew category during the 2023 AFGSC Operations Awards.

On December 13, 2022, the Scout 94 crew faced a life-threatening situation while flying a B-52 from Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, to Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana. The three aircrew members on board were Capt. Charles Powell, 11th Bomb Squadron aircraft commander, now the Director of Staff, Lt. Col. John Conway, 11th Bomb Squadron radar navigator, now Air Combat Command Training Support Squadron Detachment 13 commander, and Capt. Matthew Walls, 343 Bomb Squadron copilot, now unit deployment manager.

While avoiding severe thunderstorms and descending in altitude in preparation to land, two of the aircraft’s electrical generators tripped off. According to Powell, the aircraft suddenly went into an uncontrolled left roll, descending rapidly and decelerating below normal approach speed.

“The emergency was sudden and caused brief but extreme disorientation to myself and the other crew members,” said Walls. “All the systems kicked off at once, and the aircraft went completely dark, engines flamed out, and controlling the aircraft became a battle.”

The crew immediately began working to troubleshoot and correct the situation.

“As we began to lose altitude, I could hear Captain Powell call to restart the engines and he informed me that we had lost 4 engines on one side,” said Conway.

Approximately three minutes into the emergency, Powell successfully restarted engines three and four, alleviating some of the asymmetrical load on the aircraft. The crew declared an emergency with air traffic control and orchestrated a non-standard right turn, steering clear of the bad weather as they navigated towards a safe landing.

“I was very fortunate to have a crew who handled their responsibilities so I could focus on the one thing that mattered in the moment– fly the jet,” said Powell.

Despite the gravity of the situation, the crew said they remained calm. The crew exchanged altitude for airspeed, regaining control just as the aircraft approached a low altitude of 1,200 feet above ground level. Considering the populated area of Bossier City, Louisiana, directly beneath them, the stakes were high.

“I believe that the reason Captain Powell was able to recover the aircraft safely is because he has trained to a six-engine approach many times and holds himself to a high standard when he trains,” said Conway. “This allowed him to instinctively fan the throttles and not make a bad situation worse by creating more of an asymmetric situation than we had.”

Approaching runway 15, the crew said they managed a six-engine landing despite the challenges they faced. The crew’s airmanship directly contributed to the successful recovery of the $84 million aircraft and the safety of its three-person crew, sparing the metropolitan area from potential catastrophe.

“Capt. Powell and Capt. Walls both performed admirably and with immense poise that day,” said Conway. “They were quick to respond to the situation, run the appropriate procedures, and fall back on their training.”

The Scout 94 crew overcame multiple catastrophic failures to safely land the aircraft, averting potential disaster in the air and on the ground.

“I’m very proud of how we handled the situation,” said Walls. “It was fast and intense, and there wasn’t time for discussion, just action. In my opinion, everyone fell into their role and did what was required.”

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Second Minuteman III test in week’s time showcases readiness of U.S. ICBM fleet

Source: United States Strategic Command

BARKSDALE AIR FORCE BASE, La.  –  

For the second time in a week, a joint team of Air Force Global Strike Command Airmen supported by Space Force Guardians launched an unarmed Minuteman III intercontinental ballistic missile equipped with one re-entry vehicle June 6 at 1:46 a.m. Pacific Time from Vandenberg Space Force Base, California.

This test launch is part of routine and periodic activities intended to demonstrate that the United States’ nuclear deterrent is safe, secure, reliable and effective to deter 21st century threats and reassure our allies. Such tests have occurred over 300 times before, and this test is not the result of current world events.

“The fact that we were able to complete two operational test launches in one week is a testimony to the excellence and professionalism of the Airmen and Guardians who do this mission every day,” said Col. Chris Cruise, 377th Test and Evaluation Group Commander. “This morning’s launch demonstrates our commitment to deterrence as we serve as the cornerstone of security for our allies and partners across the globe.”

The ICBM’s reentry vehicle traveled approximately 4,200 miles to the U.S. Army Space and Missile Defense Command’s Ronald Reagan Ballistic Missile Defense Test Site on the U.S. Army Garrison-Kwajalein Atoll, Republic of the Marshall Islands. RTS sensors, including high-fidelity metric and signature radars, as well as optical sensors and telemetry, support the research, development, test and evaluation of America’s defense and space programs. For these tests, RTS team members collect radar, optical and telemetry data in the terminal phase of flight to evaluate system performance.

The test launch is a culmination of months of preparation that involve multiple government partners.

Airmen from all three missile wings were selected for the task force to support the test launch, and maintainers from the 341st Missile Wing at Malmstrom Air Force Base, Montana, provided maintenance support. The missile bases within Air Force Global Strike Command have crew members standing alert 24 hours a day, year-round, overseeing the nation’s ICBM alert forces. 

“Our ICBM force provides 24/7 strategic deterrence and stand ready to respond at a moment’s notice as the most responsive leg of the nuclear triad,” said Gen. Thomas A. Bussiere, commander, Air Force Global Strike Command. “These test launches demonstrate and confirm our readiness to deliver a safe, secure, effective, and credible, global combat capability.”

The ICBM community, including the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and U.S. Strategic Command, uses data collected from test launches for continuing force development evaluation. The ICBM test launch program demonstrates the operational capability of the Minuteman III and ensures the United States’ ability to maintain a strong, credible nuclear deterrent as a key element of U.S. national security and the security of U.S. allies and partners.

Air Force Global Strike Command is a major command with headquarters at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, in the Shreveport-Bossier City community. The command oversees the nation’s three intercontinental ballistic missile wings, the Air Force’s entire bomber force, to include B-52, B-1 and B-2 wings, the Long Range Strike Bomber program, Air Force Nuclear Command, Control and Communications systems, and operational and maintenance support to organizations within the nuclear enterprise. Approximately 33,700 professionals are assigned to two Numbered Air Forces, nine wings, two geographically-separated squadrons and one detachment in the continental United States and deployed to locations around the globe. AFGSC marks its 15th year anniversary in 2024. More information can be found at: https://www.afgsc.af.mil/About/Fact-Sheets/Article/454593/air-force-global-strike-command-air-forces-strategic-air/

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Ellsworth B-1B Lancer conducts live munitions training over S. Korea

Source: United States Strategic Command

OSAN AIR BASE, SOUTH KOREA  –  

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer joined Republic of Korea Air Force F-15Ks Slam Eagles for live munitions and close air support training at the Pilsung Range, Republic of Korea, in an event designed to enhance the interoperability, lethality, and readiness of U.S. and ROK air forces.

One B-1B from the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron [from Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D.], currently assigned to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and two ROK F-15Ks from 11th Fighter Wing, Daegu Air Base, successfully released live GBU-38, 500-pound joint direct attack munitions, simultaneously striking multiple simulated targets — testing the ROK-U.S. Alliance’s combined close air support and precision strike capabilities.

The training marked the first time the B-1 has conducted a live munitions drop on the Korean peninsula since 2017 and offered the alliance its latest opportunity to prepare for combat to defend the Korean peninsula, cementing its combined defense posture and demonstrating extended deterrence.

“This training showcases the incredible capabilities of our combined forces to simultaneously strike multiple targets in a contested environment,” said Lt. Gen. David Iverson, U.S. Force Korea deputy commander and Seventh Air Force commander. “The tremendous capabilities of ROK and U.S. airpower is an overwhelming, asymmetric warfighting advantage for our combined force that adversaries cannot match.”

The B-1 carries the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the U.S. Air Force inventory and can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time. Its unique blended wing/body configuration, variable-geometry wings and turbofan afterburning engines, combine to provide long range, maneuverability and high speed while enhancing survivability – making it a highly versatile, multi-mission weapon system.

“Today’s integration with the Republic of Korea demonstrated the ability of our B-1 fleet to conduct precision targeting and strike with live weapons in an unfamiliar location,” said Lt. Col. Christian Hoover, 37th EBS commander. “The partnership with ROK allows us to support National Security objectives through the speed, flexibility, and readiness of our strategic bombers.”

Following the live-drop, the B-1 joined U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs, U.S. Air Force F-16s, and KC-135 Stratotankers, and ROK F-35As and KF-16s for air-to-air training over the western region of South Korea. The training offered the opportunity for fifth and fourth generation aircraft to integrate with bombers and conduct live, realistic practice, further strengthening the combined capability of U.S. and ROK forces, providing a powerful deterrent to potential aggressors.

“The security of the Korean Peninsula is a top priority for the U.S., and training events like this one demonstrate our ironclad commitment to defend our alliance and uphold regional stability,” said Iverson. “The ROK-U.S. Alliance is a powerful symbol of our shared commitment to peace in the region.”

Editor’s note: Article has been localized for 28th Bomb Wing, Ellsworth Air Force Base, S.D. 

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Leadership, collaboration key to Resolute Sentinel 2024 success

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

As Resolute Sentinel 2024 begins its second week, the participating nations continue to underscore the importance of international military cooperation, enabling unified execution of complex operations with an emphasis on Agile Combat Employment while demonstrating what it means to lead from the front.

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Resolute Sentinel 2024 tests rapid blood transport to Peru

Source: United States SOUTHERN COMMAND

Exercise Resolute Sentinel 2024 tested the ability of the U.S. military to rapidly transport blood from Joint Base Charleston, South Carolina, to Lima, Peru, on May 30, 2024. A U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III assigned to 167th Airlift Wing transported the units, marking the first-time blood was delivered into Peru for exercise Resolute Sentinel, now in its third iteration.

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Fortifying partnerships: US Army, AFP divers clear Basco Port obstacles

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

BATANES, Philippines  –  

U.S. Army divers with the 7th Engineer Dive Detachment, 84th Engineer Battalion, 130th Engineer Brigade partnered with divers from the Philippine Army’s 525th Combat Engineer Battalion to remove rock obstacles at the Port of Basco as part of exercises Salaknib and Balikatan 2024.

The rock clearance project started on April 6, and operations will last approximately 60 days. This removal project will enable vessels to utilize the port more efficiently, increasing financial opportunities for the local community and improving access for commercial use, routine military exercises, and humanitarian aid and disaster response, crucial for addressing ongoing threats in this natural disaster-prone region.

“The removal of obstructions in an active civilian port requires precise and deliberate execution, and every one of our Soldiers trained on these skills at our home station to reduce the inherent risks associated with the mission,” said Capt. Ander Thompson, commander, 7th Dive Detachment. “Our mission is to build partnerships with our AFP partners while providing tangible port improvements for the people of Basco.”

During an initial site survey by 7th ENG divers in October 2023, they observed more than 100 large boulders within the Port of Basco, some exceeding three meters in diameter. In coordination between the Philippine and U.S. governments, and at the request of the Batanes governor and Basco mayor, the Philippine and U.S. Armies agreed to remove the obstacles to increase the port’s usability.

“I’m extremely proud of the work the combined team of divers are doing in the Port of Basco,” said Maj. Gen. Jered Helwig, commanding general, 8th Theater Sustainment Command. “The Philippines is our oldest ally in the Indo-Pacific, and the combined team of divers are making a tangible difference that will improve port access for years to come.”

According to Thompson, the divers used a variety of methods, including lifting, rigging, light dredging, underwater drilling, jackhammering, and non-explosive detonation methods, to break the rocks into smaller pieces and clear the port. “This team continues to advance our proficiency in engineer mobility operations by conducting port clearing and port damage repair across the Pacific. We spent weeks deliberately training for this mission,” said Thompson.

To ensure the U.S. divers were prepared for the mission, they completed a comprehensive training cycle at their home station on Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Oahu, Hawaii, where they meticulously planned, researched, and trained for the breadth of variables they could encounter throughout the project.

Before the dive detachment departed for the Philippines, they collaborated with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ Engineer Research and Development Center out of Vicksburg, Mississippi to increase familiarization with geotechnical reduction in constrained environments and the safety measures the team could implement to accomplish the mission while protecting the environment and nearby port.

Preserving the local ecosystem remains paramount to the operation, and the divers gave each rock unique consideration. Additionally, the team worked with the local government and agreed that all material removed from the port will be repurposed for future construction projects on the island.

While the combined team of U.S. and Filipino divers reinforce the importance of safety for both the divers and the ecosystem, they have also learned from each other, sharing best practices and techniques along the way.

“Working with the U.S. Army divers is a big opportunity,” said Philippine Army 1st Lt. Alexis Nocos, a rescue diver assigned to the 525th Combat Engineer Battalion, Combat Engineer Regiment. “We have done a lot of learning [with them]; it really is a good experience to work with them.”

​Exercises like Salaknib and Balikatan improve collective military readiness and enhance interoperability, benefiting the local communities by enabling the participating forces to serve and support them.

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US, ROK Air Forces conduct live munitions training with B-1B, F-15Ks at Pilsung Range

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

OSAN AIR BASE, South Korea  –  

A U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer joined Republic of Korea Air Force F-15Ks Slam Eagles for live munitions and close air support training at the Pilsung Range, Republic of Korea, in an event designed to enhance the interoperability, lethality, and readiness of U.S. and ROK air forces.

One B-1B from the 37th Expeditionary Bomb Squadron, currently assigned to Andersen Air Force Base, Guam, and two ROK F-15Ks from 11th Fighter Wing, Daegu Air Base, successfully released live GBU-38, 500-pound joint direct attack munitions, simultaneously striking multiple simulated targets — testing the ROK-U.S. Alliance’s combined close air support and precision strike capabilities.

The training marked the first time the B-1 has conducted a live munitions drop on the Korean peninsula since 2017 and offered the alliance its latest opportunity to prepare for combat to defend the Korean peninsula, cementing its combined defense posture and demonstrating extended deterrence.

“This training showcases the incredible capabilities of our combined forces to simultaneously strike multiple targets in a contested environment,” said Lt. Gen. David Iverson, U.S. Force Korea deputy commander and Seventh Air Force commander. “The tremendous capabilities of ROK and U.S. airpower is an overwhelming, asymmetric warfighting advantage for our combined force that adversaries cannot match.”

The B-1 carries the largest conventional payload of both guided and unguided weapons in the U.S. Air Force inventory and can rapidly deliver massive quantities of precision and non-precision weapons against any adversary, anywhere in the world, at any time. Its unique blended wing/body configuration, variable-geometry wings and turbofan afterburning engines, combine to provide long range, maneuverability and high speed while enhancing survivability – making it a highly versatile, multi-mission weapon system.

“Today’s integration with the Republic of Korea demonstrated the ability of our B-1 fleet to conduct precision targeting and strike with live weapons in an unfamiliar location,” said Lt. Col. Christian Hoover, 37th EBS commander. “The partnership with ROK allows us to support National Security objectives through the speed, flexibility, and readiness of our strategic bombers.”

Following the live-drop, the B-1 joined U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs, U.S. Air Force F-16s, and KC-135 Stratotankers, and ROK F-35As and KF-16s for air-to-air training over the western region of South Korea. The training offered the opportunity for fifth and fourth generation aircraft to integrate with bombers and conduct live, realistic practice, further strengthening the combined capability of U.S. and ROK forces, providing a powerful deterrent to potential aggressors.

​”The security of the Korean Peninsula is a top priority for the U.S., and training events like this one demonstrate our ironclad commitment to defend our alliance and uphold regional stability,” said Iverson. “The ROK-U.S. Alliance is a powerful symbol of our shared commitment to peace in the region.”

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Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III Concludes Tenth Visit to the Indo-Pacific

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Pentagon Press Secretary Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder provided the following release:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III concluded his tenth official visit to the Indo-Pacific region today. During his trip, Secretary Austin met in Singapore with Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, counterparts from across the Indo-Pacific region, and other senior officials; delivered plenary remarks at the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue; and met with Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet and other senior Cambodian officials in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.

Secretary Austin’s Engagements on Friday, May 31

Secretary Austin met separately with Singapore Prime Minister Lawrence Wong and Defense Minister Ng Eng Hen, where they reaffirmed the longstanding defense partnership between the United States and Singapore. Before their bilateral meeting, Secretary Austin and Minister Ng witnessed the signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding between the U.S. Defense Innovation Unit and the Singapore Ministry of Defence.

Secretary Austin also met with People’s Republic of China (PRC) Minister of National Defense Admiral Dong Jun to discuss regional and global security issues, U.S.-PRC defense relations, and the importance of open lines of military-to-military communication.

Secretary Austin’s Engagements on Saturday, June 1

During plenary remarks delivered at the 2024 Shangri-La Dialogue, Secretary Austin marked the Indo-Pacific region’s “new convergence” of likeminded allies and partners who share a vision for a free and open region. “Likeminded countries across this region have deepened our ties—and delivered real-world results for the people of the Indo-Pacific,” he said. In his remarks, Secretary Austin also welcomed the U.S. endorsement of a new multilateral Statement of Principles for Indo-Pacific Defense Industrial Base Collaboration.

Secretary Austin also met bilaterally with counterparts from countries across the Indo-Pacific, including Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles from Australia, President-elect and Minister of Defense Prabowo Subianto from Indonesia, Minister of Defense Mohamad Khalad from Malaysia, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro from the Philippines, and Minister of Defense Sutin Khlangsaeng from Thailand.

Secretary Austin’s Engagements on Sunday, June 2

Secretary Austin, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru and Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of Defense Shin Won-sik convened a Trilateral Ministerial Meeting (TMM) to discuss new initiatives to strengthen and institutionalize trilateral security cooperation to contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific region, and beyond—including ​the first iteration of the new, multi-domain trilateral exercise, FREEDOM EDGE, this summer.

Secretary Austin also met together with counterparts and other senior defense leaders from Southeast Asia to discuss how the United States and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are advancing regional peace and stability together.

On the margins of the Shangri-La Dialogue, Secretary Austin also met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to reiterate unwavering U.S. support for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression.

Secretary Austin’s Engagements on Tuesday, June 4

Following the Shangri-La Dialogue, Secretary Austin traveled to Phnom Penh to meet with senior Cambodian officials. While there, he met separately with Prime Minister Hun Manet, Minister of National Defence Tea Seiha, and President of the Senate Hun Sen. In their meetings, the officials discussed opportunities to strengthen the U.S.-Cambodia bilateral defense relationship in support of regional peace and security.

Secretary Austin’s tenth trip to the Indo-Pacific came at a time when the Department of Defense is doing more than ever to strengthen U.S. relationships with allies and partners to advance regional peace, stability, and deterrence.