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Pacific Perspective:Fighter Presence Assured at Kadena Air Base

On 2 October 2023,Boeing F-15C Eagles from 144th Fighter Wing,Fresno Air National Guard Base,California,arrived at Kadena Air Base,Okinawa,Japan to ensure continuous fighter presence as Kadena's fleet of F-15 C/D Eagles make a phased return to the US,18th Wing announced.Kadena is called the Keystone of the Pacific because of its strategic location on Okinawa.The ANG Eagles will work with other heavy,reconnaissance,and 4th and 5th generation fighter aircraft assets augmented and stationed to Kadena to ensure steady-state fighter capabilities in the Indo-Pacific Region.The diverse array of fighters,alongside joint and Allied Forces,strengthen operational readiness to defend Japan,while ensuring a free and open Indo-Pacific through a robust presence of dynamic fighter aircraft.Said Lt.Col. John Vanbragt,144th Operations Group commander:Our squadron is excited to train and integrate with our bilateral Partners.Operating in the Indo-Pacific offers immense opportunities for our Airmen and Allies to strengthen our partnerships and continue to refine tactics.* Thus the reception of the F-15C at Kadena enables the 18th Wing to work dynamically in a fluid airspace and Area of Operations,ensuring U.S. Forces Japan and Allied partners remain postured to deliver lethal and combat-ceredible airpower to ensure the defence of US Allies and a free and open Indo-Pacific,maintaining deterrence capabilities and added flexibility in a dynamic theatre.Posturing with a wide range of capabilities in the Indo-Pacific remains a top priority,18th Wing said.* Team Kadena is a world-class combat team ready to fight and win from the Keystone in the Pacific.Kadena Air Base's mission is to project decisive airpower to ensure regional stability and security as an Agile,Innovative and Ready Force from Pacific Air Forces' premier air base.* The F-15C has a maximum speed of Mach 2.5 (1650 mph/2655 km/h at high altitude) and has a service ceiling of 65,000 ft/20,000 km.It is armed with 1x20mm M61A1 Vulcan 6 barrel rotating cannon and up to 4xAIM-7 Sparrow missiles;4xAIM-9 Sidewinder missiles;and 8-AIM-120 AMRAAM missiles.The Air Force plans to retire all F-15C/Ds by 2026.* Boeing (BA)

LEONOR: Sus PRIMERAS FOTOS con UNIFORME de CAMUFLAJE, CASCO y FUSIL | RTVE Noticias - Spanish Public Broadcasting

Spanish Public Broadcasting has provided these photos of Princesa Leonor de Asturias,the future regnant Queen of Spain,while on field training exercises with her fellow cadets of the Academia General Militar de Zaragoza.

US block on additional Ukraine funding "will get sorted out", ambassador tells DW

U.S. Navy Awards Cockpit Modernization Contract to Northrop Grumman - Aviation Today

U.S. Navy Awards Cockpit Modernization Contract to Northrop Grumman: Northrop Grumman will evolve the E-2D Advanced Hawkeye cockpit and computing architecture with DSSC 6 as part of a new contract awarded by the U.S. Navy. Northrop Grumman (NOC)

U.S. Army, NATO. Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division In Moldova. Training mission - Exercise Rapid Trident

NATO Partner Moldova borders Ukraine,which is to the east.Romanian is the majority language (75%),with a Russian-speaking minority (16%).

Allied Reaction:NATO's Newest Force

On 29 September 2023,the NATO Rapid Deployable Corps Italy (NRDC-ITA) was announced as the interim headquarters for the Alliance's new Allied Reaction Force (ARF),NATO announced in a press release.ARF was established at the NATO Vilnius Summit in July 2023.The NRDC-ITA will provide Supreme Allied Commander Europe General Christopher G. Cavoli,U.S. Army,with immediate capability to respond to a crisis,while also providing for the development of permanent ARF structures.The ARF will be a new,muti-domain Force for providing more options to respond swiftly to threats and crises in all directions throughout Alliance territory.Said NRDC-ITA commander Lt.Gen.Lorenzo D'Addario:I am excited and honoured to serve the Alliance in such a crucial role.We will be training hard to provide NATO a ready Force.* For the remainder of 2023 and early 2024,NRDC-ITA will undergo a rigorous series of measures:military exercises;academic studies;staff training;and the exercise Steadfast Deterrence in May 2024.Then NRDC-ITA will receive validation as an interim HQ before officially assuming the role in July 2024.This new role will strengthen the Corps' extant relationships,while allowing it to work with new Allies and Partners,sharing expertise and experience while demonstrating cohesion and legitimacy.The selection of NRDC-ITA as the interim HQ reaffirms Italy's commitment to the Deterrence and Defence of the Euro-Atlantic Area,NATO said.* For its part,the UK has already pledged forces to the ARF.The ARF is part of the Alliance's New Force Model,which will support modernisation and strengthening of the NATO Force Structure.This in turn will ensure declared capabilities,equipment and forces are available to SACEUR in the right place at the right time.The agile,multi-domain and combat-credible ARF will be able to deploy at very high readiness to respond to a range of crises,the UK Ministry of Defence pointed out,in light of Russia's brutal war of aggression against Ukraine.Contribution of fighter aircraft,land forces and maritime vessels to the New Force Model will protect people across the Alliance against future threats,the UK MOD stated.