US
Alaska Command launched Exercise Northern Edge last week, bringing some 200
joint-service aircraft and 6,000 military personnel together for a large-scale
Pacific defense scenario. "The objective is to make sure our air combat
forces are ready as a joint team and to be able to execute real world
operations anywhere in the Pacific," Col. Charles Corcoran, 3rd Wing
commander at JB Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, said in a
release.
"Northern Edge is the premier combat exercise for joint forces ...
anywhere in the world," he added. "Alaska has some unique
capabilities that you just can't find anywhere else." Air Force combat
aircraft
participating include Active Duty, Guard, and Reserve F-22s, F-15Cs,
F-15Es, F-16s, and E-3 AWACS, as well as airlift and tanker support assets
staging from Elmendorf and Eielson AFB, Alaska. The exercise runs June 11-26.
