An American military base in Japan on Tuesday, May 6, participated in a massive show-of-force, showing off 53 warplanes and a pair of defense missiles in an ‘elephant walk’ exercise at one of its largest outposts in the Asia-Pacific region.
The demonstration featured U.S. Navy and Air Force aircraft that regularly operate out of Japan’s Kadena Air Base. The U.S. Army participated with the addition of two highly sought-after Patriot surface-to-air missiles, rounding out what a May 6 news release called a demonstration “highlighting the strength of America’s integrated air and missile defense and its commitment to joint operations.”
“Working alongside our allies and partners, Kadena stands ready to project airpower throughout the region to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific,” said Brig. Gen. Nicholas Evans, commander of the base’s 18th Wing.
Military exercises and other demonstrations like the one on Tuesday are routine and often conducted by large military powers, including the United States and its allies. More often than not, they are symbolic shows intended as a form of deterrence. The Indo-Pacific region has been in a state of high tension for more than a decade over U.S.-China relations, Taiwan and the disputed South China Sea.
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Photographs released by the Air Force show fighter jets and large military aircraft in formation alongside helicopters and drones, with the two Patriot air defense missiles flanking either side of the expansive runway.
Kadena Air Base is on the Japanese island of Okinawa, sandwiched between Japan and Taiwan in the East China Sea. Its proximity makes it the closest military outpost to Taiwan, a self-governed island allied to the U.S. China considers Taiwan to be a part of its territory and has vowed to pursue unification, including by force.
The base is the largest U.S. outpost in the region, rivaled only by Camp Humphreys in South Korea.
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‘Elephant walk’ is an Air Force term for a close formation of aircraft taxiing en masse before takeoff, according to the U.S. Department of Defense.
“An elephant walk like this sends a message you can’t ignore—it shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that we’re united, capable, and ready,” said Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang. “This kind of teamwork and presence is exactly how we maintain deterrence in the Indo-Pacific.”
Kathryn Palmer is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. You can reach her at kapalmer@usatoday.com and on X @KathrynPlmr.
US Air Force and Navy parade dozens of warplanes in Pacific 'elephant walk' – USA Today
