Category: Security

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The Royal International Air Tattoo is not only the largest air show in the world – it is a convention of lethality, ingenuity, and partnership. The U.S. Air Force, alongside NATO allies and partners from around the globe, showcased what the strength of multinational relationships can achieve.

“America’s international partners are one of its greatest strengths,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Mercer Martin, 99th Expeditionary Reconnaissance Squadron U-2S pilot. “Spending our time meeting our partners in person while forging bonds and friendships is an extremely important addition to the relationships we have with our allied nations around the world.”

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Exposing both the U.S. and partner-nation personnel to diverse strategies and training methods strengthens the goal of a cohesive, interoperable force. These relationships play a key part in times of peace as much as they do in the theater of war.

“I enjoy flying an aircraft that’s so close in league with our American colleagues. It’s a real change of pace,” said an RAF Rivet Joint pilot. “Your training systems and operational focus into different deployable locations make it so U.S. Airmen are more versed on how it all works in different areas of the world. It’s nice to be exposed to that and fly more often with pilots who have different techniques.”

As in years past, one of RIAT’s greatest strengths this year was the access it provided allies, partner nations and the public to U.S. aircraft, aircrew, and the stories behind them. It was a rare chance for global audiences to witness both the capabilities and the humanity behind modern airpower. This visibility builds confidence, strengthens support, and reinforces the value of continued collaboration.

“As aircrew stationed in the United Kingdom, I’m flying tanker missions and working with NATO allies while refueling them in the air,” said U.S. Air Force Capt. Tobin Nelson, 100th Air Refueling Wing pilot. “Being on the ground and meeting them face-to-face at RIAT is amazing. Knowing I’ve worked with their people gives me the ability to network, plan new training missions, and forge new bonds through flying.”

RIAT 2025 served as a powerful reminder that diplomacy and military strength go hand in hand. By bringing together allies and partners in a shared celebration of innovation and skill, the air show fostered trust, mutual understanding, and camaraderie that extended far beyond the runway. The relationships built not only enhance all nations’ operational readiness but also promote a culture of cooperation and respect that is vital in today’s complex environments.

RIAT’s ability to inspire generations also underscores the profound impact of bringing military aviation into the public eye. For many attendees, witnessing these aircraft in action and hearing firsthand accounts from dedicated personnel sparks a passion for service and a belief in the importance of teamwork.

“When you come here and see participants and children from every walk of life with a sparkle in their eye, you don’t ever want to stifle those dreams,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. John Stortecky, 337th Airlift Squadron flight engineer. “Hopefully one day someone will say, ‘I had that tour through the aircraft and I saw them fly – and it inspired me to become who I am today.’”

“We’ve seen amazing global teamwork completing an incredible lift to kick off REFORPAC,” said Gen. Kevin Schneider, PACAF commander. “Airmen have innovated and overcome tough obstacles to get critical pieces in place, demonstrating our collective capability to project decisive air power into and throughout the Indo-Pacific with dramatic speed and scale.”

The U.S. Air Force, alongside its joint allies and partners, will continue to train and integrate over the next several weeks, enhancing interoperability and readiness across the Pacific theater. REFORPAC is part of the first-in-a-generation Department-Level Exercise series, a new way the Air Force is exercising to conduct large operations in contested, dynamic environments. The aim is to improve interoperability and multilateral cooperation, leading to a stronger, more capable, deterrent force.

The DLE series encompasses all branches of the Department of Defense, along with allies and partners, employing approximately 400 U.S. and coalition aircraft and more than 12,000 members at more than 50 locations spanning 3,000 miles.

The monumental effort is made possible by extensive planning and coordination efforts throughout the Air Force, along with joint, allied and partner forces, which have shown the ready ability of combined joint forces to mobilize in great numbers for any contingency. In lockstep with PACAF, Air Mobility Command has provided critical airlift, air refueling and command and control capabilities to project, connect, maneuver and sustain joint forces.

“We’re witnessing a complex operation in the Indo-Pacific driven by logistics – rapid, deliberate and mission-driven,” said Brig. Gen. Athanasia Shinas, mobilization assistant to PACAF’s director of logistics. “Our Total Force concept is critical to this capability, leveraging the unparalleled expertise and diverse talent drawn from every industry and sector of society through our Guard and Reserve. This integration creates extraordinary opportunities to strengthen our Total Force and coalition Airmen.”

Airmen are exercising robust contested logistics and engineering capabilities, sustainment over vast distances, fuel resupply and access to forward operating locations.

“This is a logistical movement at an unprecedented scale – an explosive surge into the theater driven by precision and a resilient joint network,” said Brig. Gen. Mike Zuhlsdorf, PACAF director of logistics, engineering and force protection. “What makes it exceptional is the partnership with local leaders abroad, as well as infrastructure; their participatory enthusiasm has turned REFORPAC into a truly integrated regional effort. This support brings essential access and shared purpose to an extraordinary training landscape.”

The tested Agile Combat Employment operational strategy, used to support joint operations, has prepared sites throughout the theater. ACE preparations have included shoring up building infrastructure and ensuring a constant flow of critical supplies, all to facilitate uninterrupted mission execution during the exercise.

“PACAF continually seeks to improve our readiness to respond to any contingency, defend the interests of the United States and work closely together with our allies and partners to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Schneider said.

The event featured aircraft from both nations, including a JASDF UH-60J helicopter and U-125A search-and-rescue coordination aircraft, as well as a U.S. Air Force HC-130J Combat King II from the 102nd Rescue Squadron.

“The goal of the capabilities briefing and aircraft tours was to enable partner nation integration and foster mutual understanding among our rescue squadrons,” said U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Richard Conner, 130th Rescue Squadron HC-130J rescue loadmaster. “This lays the groundwork for future collaboration in the INDOPACOM area, which is a part of our unit’s mission.”

The static display was one of many engagements conducted as part of REFORPAC, a Pacific Air Forces-led contingency readiness exercise nested under the Department of the Air Force’s new Department-Level Exercise series. This DLE is a first-in-a-generation approach to preparing for operations in contested, dynamic environments, spanning more than 50 locations and involving more than 12,000 joint and coalition personnel and over 400 aircraft.

Throughout the display, participating Airmen discussed aircraft capabilities and differences in personnel recovery methods.

“One notable difference is in the pararescue insertion methods,” Conner said. “JASDF Pararescue typically insert via hoist from the UH-60J, since their fixed-wing aircraft belong to the Airlift Command. Meanwhile, our HC-130J enables personnel airdrops, which allows our Pararescue to get to the fight.”

Conner also pointed out technical details that stood out during the tour.

“I was surprised to see the UH-60J outfitted with external fuel tanks — that really extends its loiter time,” he added.

More than a showcase of equipment, the event fostered personal relationships, improved operational communication and strengthened shared tactics.

“This event is extremely important in building a framework for further cooperation,” Conner said. “It puts faces and names to specific units and enables us to fly real-world missions together during REFORPAC. By briefing and mission planning together, we’re able to execute helicopter air-to-air refueling and speak the same language and brevity terms while flying in close formation over the Sea of Japan.”

The visit concluded with a group photo symbolizing shared commitment among the rescue units. A common thread across all participating squadrons stood out: their shared motto, That Others May Live.

“Everyone got a kick out of the fact that our units all share the same motto,” Conner said. “It’s a powerful reminder that no matter the uniform, our mission is the same.