US stages joint Guam drill with Australia and Japan as it looks for ways to make it harder for China to ‘wipe out’ air forces with missile strikes
- Drills will include air combat exercises designed to improve ability to use smaller airfields in case major bases come under attack
- US commanders believe China and Russia pose a growing threat to its military facilities
The joint exercise at the Andersen Air Force Base, known as Cope North 2021, started on Wednesday and will run until February 19 and will see the base hosting F-35A joint strike fighters for the first time.
The exercise kicks off with an exercise designed to improve the three countries’ ability to carry out humanitarian operations in response to a natural disaster in the region, according to a statement from the US air force in the Pacific.
It also includes air combat drills designed to improve their flexibility and common communications ability.
Air Force magazine reported that one commander had said that one aim was to improve the forces’ ability to operate from small, rough airfields with limited facilities – also known as austere airfields– a move analysts said was designed to make it harder to “wipe out” US air power with missile attacks on major bases.