The recent elephant walk conducted at Kadena Air Base in Okinawa was one of the most evocative demonstrations of U.S. airpower witnessed in the Indo-Pacific in years. As part of the Beverly High exercise, the event was not merely a case of lining up jets for a photo—it was an orchestrated display of power, preparedness, and coordination among various military branches. With its hefty roster of planes and missile defense systems, it showed the extent of America’s operations in the Pacific.
8. Scale and Diversity Like Never Before
This year’s elephant walk featured 53 planes from the U.S. Air Force, Navy, and Army, one of the largest of its type ever conducted in Japan. The squadron consisted of 24 F-35A Lightning II stealth fighter jets, eight F-15E Strike Eagles, six HH-60W Jolly Green II helicopters, two MQ-9 Reaper unmanned aerial vehicles, two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft, six KC-135 Stratotankers, one RC-135 Rivet Joint, one E-3 Sentry AWACS, two EA-18G Growlers, one P-8 Poseidon, and two Army Patriot missile batteries. This record-breaking crowd almost doubled the size of last year’s exhibit and even surpassed Hill Air Force Base’s 52-aircraft stroll in Utah.
7. F-35A Lightning II – The Game Changer
Headlining the flight were 24 F-35A Lightning IIs from several squadrons. Stealthy, with state-of-the-art sensors and real-time information sharing, the F-35 is the “quarterback” of the skies, integrating air, land, sea, space, and cyber operations. Its stealth capability to enter denied zones without notice and provide targeting data for other forces changes the way battles are fought.
6. F-15E Strike Eagles – Heavy Hitters
Eight F-15E Strike Eagles, flown in from Seymour Johnson Air Base, added some serious strike power to the equation. Designed to penetrate deep into enemy territory, these two-seat, dual-role fighters are capable of carrying more bombs than the F-35. Combined with stealth fighters, they are part of a multiple-tiered air strategy—speed, guns, and precision all combining.
5. Electronic Eyes and Ears
Electronic warfare and intelligence assets were ably represented. Two Navy EA-18G Growlers controlled suppression of enemy air defenses, and an Air Force RC-135 Rivet Joint collected signals intelligence. A Navy P-8 Poseidon managed maritime reconnaissance, and an E-3 Sentry AWACS controlled the air battle, with situational awareness extending hundreds of miles. Collectively, these aircraft ensure threats are recognized—and addressed—before they can strike.
4. The Logistics Backbone
Sustaining such a massive airborne fleet takes world-class support. Six KC-135 Stratotankers and two MC-130J Commando IIs provided around-the-clock aerial refueling and expanded mission ranges. The MC-130Js also enable special operations assistance, from inserting troops to refueling helicopters and carrier aircraft. Without this logistical brawn, the entire formation couldn’t remain in the fight for very long.
3. Strength in Base Defense
For the first time, two Army Patriot missile batteries flanked the aircraft, calling attention to the place of ground-based air defense in safeguarding critical facilities. Their presence indicated that Kadena is not merely a base from which to launch missions—it’s a strongly defended bastion.
2. True Joint Force Operations
This was an integrated exercise from the outset, with the Air Force, Navy, and Army operating together. With modern warfare, all three domains—air, sea, and land—must be closely coordinated, and Kadena’s location makes it an ideal location for joint and allied operations. That synergy is essential for rapid, decisive action across the Pacific.
1. Readiness and a Clear Message
Less of a photo shoot, the elephant walk pushed testing actual concepts such as Agile Combat Employment—rapid dispersal and creation of sorties even in dire circumstances. Airmen practiced emergency reaction, battle damage repair, and rapid runway recovery. Leaders expressed that displays such as this send a message that cannot be ignored: the forces present here are prepared, capable, and unified.
Behind the scenes, weeks of planning were put into bringing it about. Maintenance teams and support staff worked against the clock to ready all aircraft to the best possible standards without disrupting ongoing operations.
In the future, Kadena is set to host next-generation F-15EX Eagle II fighters, maintaining the base at the heart of Pacific air operations for years to come.