Japan, US set to launch large-scale REFORPAC drills with 300+ aircraft

About 3,100 personnel and more than 300 aircraft, including 50 from Japan’s Air Self-Defense Forces, will take part in the large-scale U.S.-sponsored exercises Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC).

The drills will take place across various locations in the Japanese archipelago from July 9 to August 4, reads the press release from the Japan Air Self-Defense Forces command, Caliber.Az writes via foreign media.

“The purpose of participating in the U.S. Department of Defense-sponsored Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC) exercises is to improve operational skills and coordination.”

The exercises will consist of five main stages: preparation of U.S. Air Force fighters and Japan’s Air Self-Defense Forces for deployment, training in the repair of damaged runways, medical evacuation training, and combat training for air defense systems.

REFORPAC 2025 is a cornerstone of the U.S. Air Force’s efforts to strengthen deterrence in the Indo-Pacific amid rising tensions with China, North Korea, and Russia.

By Khagan Isayev