Category: US Indo Pacific Command

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

SOUTH CHINA SEA  –  

The U.S. Navy and Armed Forces of the Philippines conducted a Maritime Cooperative Activity (MCA) in the South China Sea, upholding freedom of navigation and overflight, reaffirming the two nations’ commitment to bolstering regional security and stability, July 31.

MCAs demonstrate the strength of the alliance between the two nations and further advances combined capabilities in the maritime domain which support peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific. This iteration included training on routine bilateral surface operations and communications.

“We welcome the opportunity to conduct maritime activities alongside our allies from the Philippines,” said Capt. Justin Harts, commander, Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 15. “Sailing together demonstrates commitment to our continued coordination with the Philippine Navy.”

The units participating included the U.S. Navy Independence-class littoral combat ship USS Mobile (LCS 26), assigned to DESRON 7 and operating under DESRON 15, and the Philippine Navy Gregorio del Pilar-class patrol ship BRP Ramon Alcaraz (PS 16).

The U.S. Navy regularly operates alongside our allies in the Indo-Pacific region as a demonstration of our shared commitment to the rules-based international order. Bilateral operations such as this provide valuable opportunities to train, exercise and develop tactical interoperability across allied navies in the Indo-Pacific. Close cooperation with allies and partners is the centerpiece to the strategy for maintaining a free and open Indo-Pacific.

7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PACIFIC OCEAN  –  

ABOARD USS ABRAHAM LINCOLN—Marine Fighter Attack Squadron (VMFA) 314 is the United States Marine Corps’ only operational and forward-deployed F-35C squadron. Over the past year, VMFA-314 as a Tactical Air Integration squadron, integrated with Carrier Air Wing Nine (CVW-9) through multiple pre-deployment exercises conducting large-force missions practicing to take down the world’s most advanced integrated defenses.

VMFA-314 is now underway conducting routine operations in the 3rd Fleet and 7th Fleet area of operations to support the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Combatant Commander, ensuring freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and assuring allies and partners.

“VMFA-314 Marines have excelled in every step of our training. Our maintenance readiness is exceptional,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey C. Davis, commanding officer of VMFA-314. “Our Marines are the best trained in the fleet. Our pilots are the most tactical. We will be ready for any mission our senior leaders ask of us.”

VMFA-314 plans to participate in exercises with key allies and partners over the next several months, enhancing coalition interoperability and assuring security.

On July 20, Davis addressed the Marines of VMFA-314 on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). During this address, Davis discussed why VMFA-314’s presence is so important.

“The United States is a global force for good – we promote peace and stability,” Davis said. “Our willingness to leave our homes and families to be operational at sea demonstrates our commitment to peace and prosperity. Your presence acts as a deterrent to potential adversaries who look to gain advantage over our allies and partners—the combat readiness you generate sends a clear message to those in the region. We are the best partner for peace and the strongest partner for defense.”

During the formation, Davis awarded a special commanding officer coin to Marines who made a significant positive impact on the unit. Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Bryce Donovan and Lance Cpl. Nicholas Miller, an F-35C airframes mechanic, were recognized in front of their peers for their exceptional positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile.

VMFA 314, assigned to CVW-9 aboard the Abraham Lincoln, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

VMFA-314 is now underway conducting routine operations in the 3rd Fleet and 7th Fleet area of operations to support the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Combatant Commander, ensuring freedom of navigation in accordance with international law and assuring allies and partners.

“VMFA-314 Marines have excelled in every step of our training. Our maintenance readiness is exceptional,” said Lt. Col. Jeffrey C. Davis, commanding officer of VMFA-314. “Our Marines are the best trained in the fleet. Our pilots are the most tactical. We will be ready for any mission our senior leaders ask of us.”

VMFA-314 plans to participate in exercises with key allies and partners over the next several months, enhancing coalition interoperability and assuring security.

On July 20, Davis addressed the Marines of VMFA-314 on the flight deck of the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72). During this address, Davis discussed why VMFA-314’s presence is so important.

“The United States is a global force for good – we promote peace and stability,” Davis said. “Our willingness to leave our homes and families to be operational at sea demonstrates our commitment to peace and prosperity. Your presence acts as a deterrent to potential adversaries who look to gain advantage over our allies and partners—the combat readiness you generate sends a clear message to those in the region. We are the best partner for peace and the strongest partner for defense.”

During the formation, Davis awarded a special commanding officer coin to Marines who made a significant positive impact on the unit. Hospital Corpsman 2nd Class Bryce Donovan and Lance Cpl. Nicholas Miller, an F-35C airframes mechanic, were recognized in front of their peers for their exceptional positive attitude and willingness to go the extra mile.

VMFA 314, assigned to CVW-9 aboard the Abraham Lincoln, is underway conducting routine operations in the U.S. 7th Fleet area of operations. U.S. 7th Fleet is the U.S. Navy’s largest forward-deployed numbered fleet, and routinely interacts and operates with allies and partners in preserving a free and open Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Department of Defense Spokesperson Cmdr. Jessica Anderson provided the following statement:

On July 30, 2024, the Republic of Korea Ministry of National Defense and the U.S. Department of Defense held the 2024 U.S.-ROK Counter Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD) Committee in Seoul.

The meeting was attended by senior representatives from both countries, including Director General for Policy and Planning at the Ministry of National Defense of the Republic of Korea Yoon Bong-hee and Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction Policy at the Department of Defense of the United States Richard C. Johnson.

The two sides expressed concern that the DPRK’s WMD capabilities are contributing to instability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region and discussed in-depth ways to strengthen the effectiveness of U.S.-ROK deterrence and defense against North Korean WMD use.

The two sides discussed information sharing on DPRK’s WMD program and how to continue to enhance the capabilities and expertise of relevant forces through the Cooperative Threat Reduction program.

In particular, the two sides agreed that the illicit proliferation of WMD in the region, including the arms trade between Russia and the DPRK, undermines peace and stability in the Indo-Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula, and will work together to prevent the proliferation of WMD.

The allies also agreed on the need for cooperation in consequence management to protect the alliance, minimize damage, and maintain combat capabilities in the event of a DPRK WMD attack and agreed to promote exchanges and cooperation between the relevant military units of the two countries.

Both sides assessed that the U.S.-ROK tabletop exercises in the nuclear, biological, and chemical defense fields in 2024 strengthened the alliance’s crisis management in light of the escalating DPRK WMD threats. Representatives of the ROK and the U.S. assessed the meeting as having contributed substantially to further strengthening cooperation in responding to the DPRK WMD threat and agreed to continue cooperation through the alliance’s combined defense posture.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

KUNSAN AIR BASE, Republic of Korea  –  

The Republic of Korea’s summers are famous for cloudy skies and torrential downpours that may appear at a moment’s notice. However, during a week in mid-July, members of the Wolf Pack at Kunsan Air Base observed a spectacle precipitate from the open skies unlike the typical monsoon rains.

Spectators throughout the installation could spot paratroopers descending from the sky onto a drop zone near the base’s alternate landing area, delivered by a U.S. MC-130J Commando II and a ROKAF MC-130K Hercules flying in formation together.

The nearly three-week, multi-national training called Joint Combined Exchange Training, was hosted by the Special Operations Command Korea from July 15-31, 2024.

The goal of the training was to ensure interoperability with coalition special operations forces (SOF) partners in realistic training environments. To do this, mission organizers created challenging scenarios in different domains to replicate adversarial tactics in combat scenarios.

“A JCET is where USAF SOF train alongside our ROK SOF counterparts to rehearse mission essential tasks while enhancing our lethality,” said Capt Raymond Lessig, 320th Special Tactics Squadron drop zone controller and mission commander. “The training provided opportunities for U.S. and ROK SOF to work through language barriers, exchange tactics techniques and procedures, and gain a better understanding of our collective strengths/weaknesses so that we can better leverage each other’s capabilities during real-world contingency operations.”

As the only theater special operations command in which the U.S. and host nation SOF are institutionally organized for combined operations, SOCKOR and aligned units regularly train with their counterparts in the ROK Army Special Warfare Command, Air Mobility and Reconnaissance Command, Naval Special Warfare Flotilla command, and other units.

To successfully accomplish the training, planners relied heavily on the coordination between the 8th FW, SOCKOR, the 353rd SOW, ROK AMRC, and the 51st Fighter Wing at Osan Air Base. Each unit played a complementary role in achieving desired training objectives. Throughout the second week, participants utilized Kunsan AB to conduct the jump training portion of the JCET.

“This is the fourth year we’ve conducted this training at Kunsan,” said Lessig. “We keep choosing to come back because of how accommodating and helpful the Wolf Pack has been. Each aspect of Kunsan from airfield management to the medical group have been ready to support our team execute this high-value training. Even with the high rate of turnover.”

The ability to accept follow-on forces is one of the key tenets of the Wolf Pack’s core mission and was on full display during the weeklong training on Kunsan. According to Col. Peter Kasarskis, 8th Fighter Wing commander, this is what makes Kunsan such a crucial asset in optimizing USFK’s agility and ability to project airpower throughout Asia.

“Kunsan exemplifies readiness in the Indo-Pacific,” said Kasarskis. “Our Airmen here at the Wolf Pack demonstrate daily what it means to be forward-deployed and ready to fight tonight. Supporting training, like the JCET, highlights our ability to rapidly receive follow-on missions and integrate with allies and partners. Kunsan is more than just a fighter base; it’s an agile power projection platform ready for any mission.”

Lessig said Kunsan’s location also made the difference in ensuring this iteration of the training was as representative of potential real-world scenarios as possible.

“Kunsan’s location is invaluable to creating realistic training conditions,” said Lessig. “Its location, surrounding environment and mission set, forces participants to plan and rehearse airborne operations far from their desired landing area, potentially at night and in adverse weather conditions, and to safely navigate as a team with all combat equipment to their objective.”

​As this portion of the JCET ends, the event showcased the military partnership between the U.S. and ROK forces, serving as a powerful reminder of their unwavering commitment to regional security. However, for some, this event was more than just a testament to their strength; it was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to witness the seamless interoperability of two of the world’s most formidable military forces.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

HONOLULU – German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius visited U.S. Indo-Pacific Command at Camp H.M. Smith, participating in an honors ceremony and official briefings during his travels to Honolulu, July 30-31, 2024. 

Pistorius met with Adm. Samuel J. Paparo, commander of USINDOPACOM, to discuss the security environment in the Indo-Pacific and opportunities for cooperation and operational collaboration, including Germany’s participation in Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024 and PACIFIC SKIES 2024. 

Pistorius also laid a wreath during a ceremony at the USS Arizona memorial, toured the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, and spoke at the Daniel K. Inouye Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies as a part of their speaker series.  

While in Hawaii, he visited crews aboard German frigate FGS Baden-Wurttemberg (F222) and replenishment ship Frankfurt am Main (A1412), which participated in RIMPAC for the first time as part of their ongoing Indo-Pacific Deployment.  

The Indo-Pacific Deployment is the German navy’s most important defense diplomacy and enhanced security cooperation project this year. For seven months, from May to December, German naval forces displayed their colors around the world with a task group consisting of two vessels to demonstrate Germany’s commitment to free and secure shipping lanes, a rules-based international order, and increased cooperation for maritime security.  

Pistorius was also honored with a military fly-over featuring three German Eurofighter EF2000s that participated in RIMPAC and recently conducted a record-breaking endurance flight of a total 10 hours 31 minutes during their transit from Japan to Hawaii. PACIFIC SKIES is designed to increase operational capability and prove that in an emergency they will be able to enforce the principles of a rules-based international order. 

USINDOPACOM is committed to enhancing stability in the Indo-Pacific region with its Allies and partners by promoting security cooperation, encouraging peaceful development, responding to contingencies, deterring aggression and, when necessary, fighting to win.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PACIFIC OCEAN  –  

The U.S. Navy and Republic of Korea (ROK) Navy successfully held a live-fire exercise using a common unmanned surface vessel (CUSV) during Exercise Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) 2024, July 12. The CUSV, equipped with six Poniard rockets, successfully engaged a target.

The exercise, a part of the ongoing RIMPAC 2024 operations around the Hawaiian Islands, served as a platform for testing the operational capabilities of the CUSV as a high-value unit escort. “With unmanned vehicles, Sailors are able to stay out of harm’s way and we can use unmanned craft to carry out a mission from relative safety,” said Lt. Cmdr. Janet VonEiff, the U.S. 3rd Fleet’s experimentation officer who leads the experimentation working group for RIMPAC.

​The CUSV was launched from the ROK tank landing ship ROKS Cheon Ja Bong (LST-687). The event also featured an unmanned aerial vehicle that provided aerial targeting information and visual confirmation, allowing the CUSV to fire its rockets at an afloat target. The UAV also performed battle damage assessments.

The live-fire exercise is part of the U.S. Navy’s experimentation program to evaluate the capabilities of the Poniard weapon system for potential adoption by the fleet.

Both navies established high-level unmanned scenarios for the exercise, which included unmanned detection, tracking, and analysis of unmanned targets, as well as the launch of guided rockets from CUSV. The exercise marked 100% system accuracy with all rockets hitting their intended targets.

Lt. Cmdr. VonEiff emphasized the importance of international collaboration in these trials. “It’s good for us to see what they are working on and for them to see what we are working on, and we can further advance our capabilities through diverse thinking,” she said. “We are always looking for partner nations to join in on the experimentation front.”

Twenty-nine nations, 40 surface ships, three submarines, 14 national land forces, more than 150 aircraft and 25,000 personnel are participating in RIMPAC in and around the Hawaiian Islands, June 27 to Aug. 1. The world’s largest international maritime exercise, RIMPAC provides a unique training opportunity while fostering and sustaining cooperative relationships among participants critical to ensuring the safety of sea lanes and security on the world’s oceans. RIMPAC 2024 is the 29th exercise in the series that began in 1971.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s Pacific Multi-Domain Training and Experimentation Capability Program Office achieved several milestones while supporting Valiant Shield 2024 in Guam, June 9-16. 

During Valiant Shield 2024, for the first time, high-level, advanced tactical Live, Virtual, and Constructive (LVC) aviation training was conducted West of the International Date Line, in Guam, an inaugural event for the PMTEC forward training site. 

PMTEC, partnered with industry and defense department stakeholders to deliver LVC enabled capabilities, which enhanced joint warfighter readiness by linking real-world live aircraft to virtual simulators flown by real pilots. LVC capabilities across the Pacific theater allow joint and coalition warfighters to conduct high-end training without revealing tactics, techniques, and procedures to our adversaries. 

During the VS24 LVC demonstration, PMTEC enabled real-world fighter aircraft to conduct rehearsal tactics against virtual aircraft representative of adversarial aircraft and weapons systems. This capability enhances the realism and quality of training for pilots in the aircraft, while also maximizing efficient use of their time airborne through real-time monitoring. This allows for adjustments made during the live-vul periods. The demonstration was also recorded, adjudicated, and debriefed utilizing a revolutionary Multi-Domain Common Data Model tool enabling cloud-based distributed debriefs to occur in a fraction of the time normally conducted. 

The PMTEC demonstration supported shore-based EA-18G Growlers operations flying both as friendly (blue) and opposing (red) air. Blue forces interacted with manned effects-based simulators connected through a ground network located at the PMTEC forward training site, located at Navy Base Guam. 

During this INDOPACOM-first, PMTEC also partnered with NAVAIRSYSCOM and PMA-205, conducting successful over-the-horizon link inject-to-live demonstrations with Carrier Air Wing Five’s F/A-18 Super Hornets. During these events, synthetic stimulations that are generated by constructive tools were injected into the aircrafts sensors via a network of satellite and carrier based systems, resulting in the pilots having to react to radar and sensor data that represented real-threat information created through virtual capabilities. 

“The PMTEC team delivered a historic virtual training and rehearsal enabler in Guam during Valiant Shield 2024,” said Dr. Andre J. Stridiron III, PMTEC Capability Program Manager. “With continued rapid advancements in technology, the PMTEC operations, activities, and investments are key to the continued expansion of live, virtual, and 

constructive training throughout the Indo-Pacific region and eventually across the Globe enabling training with our European partners.” 

Prior to the implementation of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command PMTEC office, military trainings across the Pacific was primarily domain-centric, without a significant focus on coordinated and collaborative warfighting capabilities. PMTEC resources are critical to synchronizing joint and coalition multi-domain training and rehearsals across the INDOPACOM AOR, directly enabling posture, deterrence, while increasing Joint Force readiness. Another critical value to measure the success of the PMTEC demonstration of LVC capabilities is the data indicating the implementation more than doubled the number of tactical training events conducted throughout the Marianas during VS24’s introduction of a new era of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command’s training and rehearsal capabilities across the Indo-Pacific region 

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Ms. Sabrina Singh provided the following release:

Secretary of Defense Lloyd J. Austin III concluded his eleventh official visit to the Indo-Pacific region today after a historic series of engagements with counterparts and other senior officials in Japan and the Philippines.

During his trip, Secretary Austin met in Tokyo with Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Japanese Minister of Defense Kihara Minoru, and Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Kamikawa Yoko for the 2024 U.S.-Japan Security Consultative Committee — or “2+2” — meeting. Following the 2+2 meeting, the four officials announced historic steps to modernize Alliance roles, missions, and capabilities; expand defense industry cooperation; and enhance alignment with allies and partners. The four ministers also convened a historic ministerial meeting on Extended Deterrence.

While in Tokyo, Secretary Austin, Minister Kihara, and Republic of Korea (ROK) Minister of National Defense Shin Won-sik held the first Trilateral Ministerial Meeting (TMM) to ever take place in either Japan or the ROK, where they signed a Memorandum of Cooperation on the Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework to further institutionalize their three countries’ security partnership.

In addition to holding bilateral meetings with Minister Kihara and Minister Shin, Secretary Austin also joined Secretary Blinken for a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Kishida Fumio, where the three officials highlighted the unprecedented momentum by the United States and Japan following Prime Minister Kishida’s April 2024 State Visit.

After arriving in Manila, Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken met with Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos, Jr. to underscore the historic strength of the U.S.-Philippines Alliance, reaffirm ironclad U.S. support for the Philippines in defending its sovereign rights, and discuss ways to continue working more closely with like-minded nations in the Indo-Pacific region.

Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken then joined their Philippine counterparts, Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro and Secretary of Foreign Affairs Enrique Manalo, for the fourth U.S.-Philippines 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue – the first to ever take place in Manila. Together, the four officials discussed opportunities to strengthen regional peace, stability, and prosperity in the face of shared challenges. In a separate bilateral meeting with Secretary Teodoro, Secretary Austin welcomed the historic announcements from the 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue on Foreign Military Financing for the Philippines and the conclusion of a Security Sector Assistance Roadmap.

During his final day in the Philippines, Secretary Austin visited Subic Bay, where he visited a Philippine Navy facility and toured several defense industrial sites to underscore the area’s historic opportunities for defense industrial cooperation by the United States, the Philippines, and other regional allies and partners.

Secretary Austin’s eleventh trip to the Indo-Pacific came as the Department of Defense continues to achieve historic results with U.S. allies like Japan and the Philippines toward a shared regional vision for a free and open Indo-Pacific.

On August 6, Secretary Austin and Secretary Blinken will host their Australian counterparts — Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Defence Richard Marles and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade Penny Wong — in Annapolis, Maryland, for the 2024 Australia-U.S. Ministerial Consultations (AUSMIN), marking the conclusion of a historic ten-day series of engagements by Secretary Austin with Indo-Pacific allied counterparts.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea  –  

Tamiok Strike 2024, the fourth iteration of the bilateral training exercise between the U.S. Army and the Papua New Guinea Defence Force, concluded with a closing ceremony at Murray Barracks, Papua New Guinea, July 26, 2024.

At Murray Barracks, U.S. and PNGDF service members participated in a staff exercise to improve operational planning and shared logistics, medical and military police best practices, through a series of subject matter expert exchanges to enhance soldier proficiency.

In Lae, a combined team of engineers began construction on a military domicile to enable more bilateral training opportunities during future exercises. The project is planned to be completed by the end of August.

​Remarks were given by PNGDF Col. Kingsley Wawada, the PNGDF support services commander, and U.S. Army Maj. Gen. Gavin Gardner, the commanding general of the 8th Theater Sustainment Command.

“We have a common bond, and that is to work together through mutual respect and trust to keep a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Gardner. “We are stronger when we operate together. We look forward to coming back and training with (the PNGDF), so we can improve our skills.”

This year was the first year that the two nations conducted a staff exercise together, enhancing the planning and decision-making capabilities of the PNGDF soldiers. By working together in this structured environment, participants improved their ability to coordinate and execute operations and logistics effectively.

“This is the fourth Tamiok Strike, and we logisticians have taken charge of it this year,” said Wawanda. “I’m very happy with the outcome, and I look forward to more engagement, more networking, and more interoperability with the USA.”

The exercise involves approximately 100 service members from both the U.S. and PNGDF and aims to enhance combined interoperability through training and cultural exchanges.

Tamiok Strike is a bilateral training exercise designed to improve the interoperability and readiness of the Papua New Guinea Defence Force and U.S. forces and to enhance partner capacity to respond to conventional and potential natural disasters throughout the Indo-Pacific region.

Source: United States INDO PACIFIC COMMAND

Beginning in 2022, the U.S. Air Force began embedding Airmen into Royal Australian Air Force E-7A Wedgetail units through the Military Personnel Exchange Program in preparation of replacing the aging E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System.