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World Aviation Defense & Security News - UK and Japan
 
 
UK and Japan air forces kick off first ever bilateral exercise
 
The Royal Air Force (UK) and Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) on Monday Oct. 23 kicked-off exercise "Guardian North 16", which is the first bilateral drill JASDF conducted with another foreign military, excluding the U.S., local media reported.
     
UK and Japan air forces kick off first-ever bilateral-exercise 640 001A Royal Air Force Eurofighter Typhoon assigned to the II Army Co-operation Squadron moves into a runway at Misawa Air Base, Japan, Oct. 22, 2016
(Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Deana Heitzman)
     
Four Typhoon fighter aircraft, flown by No 2 (AC) Squadron pilots from RAF Lossiemouth, arrived at Japan Air Self Defense Force (JASDF) Misawa Air Base, in the northern part of the island of Honshu on Saturday, Oct. 22.

An RAF Voyager from RAF Brize Norton, crewed by No 10 and 01 Squadrons, provided air-to-air refuelling during the 3,500 mile (5,600 km) non-stop flight from Malaysia.

F-15 fighters from Northern Air Defense Force (Chitose) Air Base (Hokkaido), and F-2 fighters from Northern Air Defense Force, Misawa Air Base are taking part.

This marks the first bilateral exercise ever in Japan for the JASDF to host with foreign military other than the U.S. The Exercise, named “Guardian North 16”, represents an opportunity for both air forces to learn from each other and develop their skills.

In a formal arrival ceremony, Commander of JASDAF Misawa Air Base, Maj Gen Koji Imaki, greeted the RAF detachment and said: “Welcome to Japan, welcome to Guardian North. We look forward to working side by side with you in this epoch making exercise. Enjoy the long long history of Northern Japan.

RAF and JASDF exercising together in Japan delivers on an agreement made in January at the Foreign and Defence Ministers Dialogue (2+2).

 

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