The United States Air Force (Air Force) conducted exercises at the Eilson military base in Alaska. On Wednesday, December 23, the Daily Mail reports.
The exercise was attended by 18 stealth fifth-generation F-35A Lightning II multipurpose fighter-bombers and 12 fourth-generation F-16 Fighting Falcon multifunctional light fighters assigned to the 354th Fighter Aviation Regiment. In particular, they performed the “elephant walk” – an exercise used to practice the control of an aircraft in a close formation, necessary for real combat missions. The fighters were escorted by two KC-135 Stratotankers.
Colonel David Skalicky, commander of the 354th US Air Force Regiment, stated that such maneuvers were designed not only to test the readiness of American aircraft based in Alaska for a quick response, but also to demonstrate the strength and influence of the US Air Force in the region. He also stressed that the US combat capabilities near Russia's borders will only grow.
As the Daily Mail notes, the exercises at the Eilson base took place after the next activation of the Russian Aerospace Forces (VKS) and the Chinese Air Force in the Asia-Pacific region. In particular, the newspaper writes, the American maneuvers could be a reaction to the Russian-Chinese patrols in the Pacific Ocean, in which the strategic aviation of the two countries was involved. In addition, Washington's concern was caused by the deployment of MiG-31 fighters at the base of the Russian Aerospace Forces in Anadyr, which had already participated in the interception of US Air Force reconnaissance aircraft over the Bering Sea.
Earlier in December, it was reported that the US Air Force had increased the F-35A Lightning II grouping to 20 units stationed at Eilson Air Force Base in Alaska. Another group of new aircraft is due to arrive at the base in April 2021.
Prior to that, in May, it became known that the US authorities are planning to send a total of 54 new F-35 fighters to Alaska in the near future. It was also planned to increase the number of military pilots working at Eilson base to 3,200 people. In addition, the authorities promised to allocate about $ 500 million to modernize the airbase itself.
