Multiple USAF units deployed for Operation "Pacific Iron"
While China is seen more as a future opponent to the United States, the USAF is expanding its doctrines. During Operation "Pacific Iron", large parts of the Pacific, specifically the Micronesia subregion of the western Pacific Ocean, will be the main focus area to fly in and over.
China's mainland is roughly some 1700 Nautical Miles (3150 Kilometers) from the island of Guam. More than fourty aircraft, including fourth- and fifth generation USAF fighters, Stratofortress bombers and approximately 800 Airmen from Pacific Air Forces (PACAF), Air Combat Command (ACC) and Air Force Global Strike Command (AFGSC) have been deployed to the US Indo-Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM) area of responsibility to participate in Operation Pacific Iron 2021. Most of them are now on Guam.
“Accelerate Change or Lose” Strikingly, Pacific Iron is not advertised as an exercise or deployment. It is an operation. Earlier Scramble Magazine wrote about Exercise Agile Flag 21-1. This exercise came to a close at Tyndall AFB (FL) at the end of October 2020 (See 1*).
It is expected that "Pacific Iron" will showcase USAF's large scale strategic flexibility standards, which were learned during previous held exercises like Agile Flag and others (See 2*).
The deployed USAF units in support of Pacific Iron 2021 will demonstrate Multi-capable skills and conduct simulated combat flight operations from local airports in Guam and Tinian.
Fourth and 5th generation fighters, C-17A and C-130J mobility aircraft and required support equipment will operate from Andersen AFB, Won Pat International Airport, and Northwest Field (All on Guam); and Tinian International Airport, Tinian, to conduct Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations (See 3*).
ACE is the use of agile operations to generate resilient airpower in a contested environment and is designed to organise, train and equip Airmen to be more agile in operation execution, strategic in deterrence, and more resilient in capabilities.
According to the 2018 NDS, Dynamic Force Employment (DFE) (See 4*) (See 5*) allows for more flexibility in using ready forces to proactively shape the strategic environment while maintaining readiness.
While a dozen 90th Fighter Squadron and 525th Fighter Squadron F-22A Raptors departed 3rd Wing's Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (AK) for Andersen AFB on 17 July 2021, they will join a dozen Hawaiian 199th Fighter Squadron F-22As from the Hawaii Air National Guard's 154th Wing.
It is expected that the Hawaiian Raptors have left Joint Base Pearl Harbor (HI) for Andersen as well. Earlier, ten F-15E Strike Eagles from the 389th Fighter Squadron, part of the 366th Fighter Wing at Mountain Home AFB (ID) and a Bomber Task Force (BTF) of three Minot AFB (ND) 5th Bomb Wing B-52H Stratofortresses (60-0034, 60-0060, both 23rd BS and 61-0007 69th BS) flew already to Andersen.
At a later stadium, the B-52Hs will also be in the area to have a bilateral exercise with the Australian Defence Force named "Talisman Saber 2021".
1* https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/will-usaf-s-exercise-agile-flag-become-the-new-standard
2* https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/wake-island-is-becoming-more-critical-for-us-forces
3* https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/usaf-s-ambitions-to-bring-small-parts-of-dynamic-force-employment-elements-to-remote-airports
4* https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/hawaii-raptors-pass-dfe-test
5* https://www.scramble.nl/military-news/langley-s-raptors-deployed-to-the-westpac
Credit photos: USAF