Hawaii Raptors pass DFE test
From 12 March until 5 April 2021, six Lockheed Martin F-22A Raptors from the combined active duty 19th Fighter Squadron and Air National Guard 199th Fighter Squadron were guests at Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni (Japan).
Normally based at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam (Hawaii), the F-22As flew to Japan to continuing effort to support the US Indo-Pacific Command’s Dynamic Force Employment (DFE) concept, which supports the US National Defense Strategy.
In late February 2021, airmen from Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam successfully transferred fuel from a C-17A Globemaster III to a Raptor and provided proof-of-concept evidence that the larger air-transport aircraft could refuel the smaller fighter jet.
The purpose of this exercise was to refuel, wherever the Raptors that need fuel from aircraft that have extra fuel, at remote and austere locations. This refueling effort is also part of USAF's larger Agile Combat Employment (ACE) initiative. Under the ACE construction, units and aircraft operate utilising smaller teams of airmen at locations not normally operated from.
Whilst being deployed to Iwakuni, the F-22A personnel focused on being ready for a high-end fight under any condition. It gave them also an opportunity to train and to practice joint integration with the Marine Aircraft Group 12 and their 5th generation F-35B aircraft.
The following HH coded F-22As were deployed to MCAS Iwakuni:
Photos: USAF, @MomoAtsugi and @AKIhimitsukichi (On Twitter) / 19th FS patch: https://flightlineinsignia.com/