Airforces

http://www.airforcesmonthly.com #359 FEBRUARY 2018 // 51

High-end training is essential if the Misawa
Wild Weasels are to remain sharp, and the 35th
FW boss proudly speaks of the ‘fight tonight’
mentality that is a hallmark of the PACAF at
large. “[It] means we must be ready to go
anywhere for any reason at any time to execute
our mission sets. Our training is vital to success.
Every year, we operate out of different locations
during annual exercises to afford our pilots
and maintainers the quality training that will
prepare them for anything. This means working
with different nations, services, languages,
cultures, tactical skillsets and airframes.”

On exercise
Last year saw the Misawa ‘Vipers’ head to
the vast Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex

(JPARC) for Exercise Northern Edge, held

from May 1-12. One of a series of US

Pacific Command (USPACOM) exercises,

it was specifically designed to prepare joint

forces to respond to crises in the lndo-Asia-

Pacific region. Most of the participants were

from various Pacific-based units, especially

from Japan and Korea. The expansive

ranges offered the 35th FW pilots training

opportunities not available back home.

Lt Col Christopher Moeller, commander of

the 13th FS, which deployed its F-16CMs

to Eielson Air Force Base during the

exercise, said: “There are incredible ranges

in Alaska; we had a chance to practise with

real emitters. Back at Misawa, it’s mostly

simulation. Here with the ground emitters

we had a chance to test our equipment and

our capabilities against those [...] specifically

how well we detect, react and report them.”

As well as working the Alaskan ranges, the

wing has recently trained in South Korea,

Guam and Malaysia, and has conducted

bilateral training with allied militaries, including

the Australian Defence Force, Japan Self-

Defense Forces and the armed forces of

the Republic of Korea and Malaysia.

“We also facilitate home-station training

for our pilots, bilateral and joint,” Col Jobe

added. “Routinely, our base houses a unit of

US Navy EA-18 Growlers, which we integrate

with as much as possible. The joint training

that we receive from them is invaluable due

to their electronic warfare capabilities and our

SEAD mission set working hand-in-hand.

“None of this training could happen without

our Pacific allies, with whom we live and

work every single day. It is not just about

the Wild Weasels’ tactics and skillsets; it is

about how we bring those skills to the fight

and integrate, or become interoperable,

with other nations, airframes, and people.

Strengthening our alliances and partnerships is

a strategic priority, so in addition to maintaining

readiness, our goal is to facilitate enhanced

security co-operation and interoperability.”

Misawa AB is also home to elements of

the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, including

Left: Wild Weasel F-16s regularly carry either
the AN/ALQ-184 jamming pod as seen here, or
the smaller ALQ-131, on the centreline station.
Above right: The AN/AAQ-33 Sniper targeting
pod is now standard issue for the Block 50/52
‘Viper’. Right: A pilot runs pre-flight checks on
a HARM before a live-fire sortie. F-16s have
carried this missile since Operation Desert
Storm and it remains a go-to SEAD weapon.
Below: Located in the northern part of the island
of Honshū, Misawa can experience some tough
weather conditions. Here, F-16C 90-0807 of the
14th FS ‘Samurais’ braves a snowstorm.