Soaring above the Pacific, a U.S. Air Force B-1B Lancer from the 37th Bomb Squadron teamed up with F-22 Raptors from the 90th Fighter Squadron, forming an ironclad spearhead in the skies. Below, U.S. Navy and Japanese Maritime Self-Defense Force ships sailed in tight formation, united in a display of allied strength during Valiant Shield 2024 on June 7, 2024. This powerful coalition underscores the seamless integration and formidable capability of U.S. and Japanese forces in maintaining stability in the region.
As NATO’s vessels carve through the Baltic in their most extensive naval drills yet, the U.S. is mirroring this display of maritime muscle with sweeping exercises across the Western Pacific.
The exercises feature an impressive lineup of U.S. firepower: the command ship USS Blue Ridge, aircraft carriers USS Ronald Reagan and USS Theodore Roosevelt, cruiser USS Robert Smalls, and five destroyers including USS Higgins and USS Rafael Peralta. The USS Harpers Ferry, an amphibious dock landing ship, also plays a key role in the operations.
In a novel tactical development, the U.S. Army is deploying high-altitude balloons from Guam and the Mariana Islands. These balloons, equipped with sensors and networking gear, are set to return to the continental U.S., enhancing maritime monitoring.
Adding to the strategic mix, the Army’s 3rd Multi-Domain Task Force is testing a new unmanned rocket launcher capable of hitting precise land and sea targets, demonstrating a leap in combat technology.
Meanwhile, the 317th Airlift Wing has carried out a grueling endurance operation to Guam with four C-130J Super Hercules aircraft. This operation underscores the U.S.’s capability to quickly project power across vast distances.
International allies, including Japan, France, and Canada, are contributing to the effort, deploying destroyers, aircraft, and submarines, underscoring a united front in maintaining global maritime security and readiness.
