The “REFORPAC” drill involves more than 350 combat and support aircraft, over 12,000 personnel from several countries, and 50-plus locations across 3,000 miles.
The US military is conducting one of the largest air exercises in recent memory—with the clear goal of prevailing over China in the event of a conflict.
Exercise Resolute Force Pacific 2025 (REFORPAC 25) is part of a “first-in-a-generation Department-Level Exercise series,” according to the US Indo-Pacific Command (INDOPACOM).
REFORPAC Emphasizes Interoperability and Effective Deployment
Starting in July and ending in August, the drill involves more than 350 combat and support aircraft, over 12,000 personnel from several countries, and 50-plus locations across 3,000 miles.
The exercise has one clear goal: to enhance interoperability between the US military, its allies, and partners in the Indo-Pacific area of operations.
“Interoperability is key to any joint and coalition operations. That’s what makes the 354th AEW [Air Expeditionary Wing] such an effective combat unit. We are able to integrate with our allies, partners, and the joint force nearly seamlessly as we share common systems and tactics,” US Air Force Col. Matthew “Scout” Johnston, the commanding officer of the 354th AEW, said in a press release.
In addition to working with allied and partner aircraft, the exercise is giving Air Force, Navy, and Marine Corps air assets the opportunity to work together. For example, REFORPAC is bringing together F-35 Lightning II, F-22 Raptor, F-16 Fighting Falcon, EA-18G Growler, and F/A-18 Super Hornet fighter jets. Other combat and support aircraft are also participating in the drill.
Why the US Military’s Naval and Air Exercises Matter
When it comes to preparedness for war, there is nothing better—short of actual combat—than realistic drills to prepare a military force.
In the event of a near-peer clash with China in the Indo-Pacific, the US military would rely significantly on the assistance of regional allies and partners. With a global purview and budget limits, there are restrictions on what the Pentagon can invest in the Indo-Pacific. For example, it cannot concentrate all of its aircraft carriers or combat aircraft in the region. The Chinese military, on the other hand, has a much more regional purview and enjoys the strategic flexibility of concentrating its forces in the area. And if it comes to blows, that concentration of forces can tilt the scales in favor of Beijing. As such, strong relations with allies and partners in the region are paramount in US strategy in the Indo-Pacific.
The exercise’s planners placed heavy emphasis on Agile Combat Employment (ACE) operations, including launching, recovering, and maintaining aircraft from dispersed locations throughout the area of operations. Through ACE operations, the U.S military wants to avoid a Pearl Harbor-type of attack against its air assets.
“Flying out of a remote place like Guam is critical to building confidence in our skill sets as combat ready flight leads or wingmen,” US Air Force Lt. Col. Erik “Speedy” Gonsalves, the commanding officer of the 355th Mission Generation Force Element (MGFE), said. “It’s confidence building for all of us when we go out and fly 700 miles over the Pacific Ocean, meet a tanker at a point in space at a specific time down to the second, then execute the mission on time, and subsequently fly the 700 miles back, all while picking around thunderstorms and adverse weather.”
Interoperability and effective employment of aircraft are two items that could mean the difference between victory and defeat in a clash with China.
About the Author: Stavros Atlamazoglou
Stavros Atlamazoglou is a seasoned defense journalist specializing in special operations and a Hellenic Army veteran (national service with the 575th Marine Battalion and Army HQ). He holds a BA from the Johns Hopkins University and an MA from the Johns Hopkins’ School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS). His work has been featured in Business Insider, Sandboxx, and SOFREP.
Image: Wikimedia Commons.
