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Dominating Air, Land, and Sea During Noble Fusion Multiple elements of the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force continue to operate in the vicinity of Okinawa during Exercise Noble Fusion, alongside the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) on February 6, 2022. The Noble Fusion team worked together to conduct aircraft refueling, both on the ground and in the air during day and night. Additionally, the team worked with allied helicopters, came ashore in small boats, conducted an aerial night strike and established a simulated Expeditionary Advance Base (EAB) in a secluded coastal area of Okinawa. The day’s events were accomplished under the direction of Combined Task Force (CTF) 79 and CTF-76. To begin the day, the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit (MEU) coordinated with the amphibious assault ship USS Essex (LHD 2) to refuel a Navy P-8 Poseidon aircraft in a simulated landing zone not favored or supported by allied forces.
Marines from the 11th MEU loaded expeditionary capabilities into multiple MV-22B Osprey aircraft and flew to support refueling ashore from the Essex, while coordinating with the crew of the P-8 to ensure correct timing of aircraft arrival. The refueling improves Marine Corps and Navy integration and further develops capabilities to maintain maritime patrol and reconnaissance aircraft and reduce these time on the ground. “Today, our joint and naval expeditionary
forces conducted lethal sea-control operations by seamlessly
integrating surface, air, and fires assets day and night across the
physical, electromagnetic, and information domains,” said Col.
Charles Readinger, chief of staff, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Brigade.
“Coordinating maneuver and employment of Japanese and American
aviation, fires assets from the MEUs, transitions between our
amphibious platforms to and from the beaches, and especially our
night air-to-air refueling all spotlight a superior level of
integration and sustain our ability to quickly respond to whatever
our nations ask of us in the Indo-Pacific region.”
“Working with the Marines and Sailors aboard the USS America was
valuable to help our CH-47 crews and ARDB troops maintain readiness
and help interoperability with US forces,” said JGSDF Maj. Yoshiki
Sasaki, liaison officer aboard the America. “We are using HIMARs and its long-range strike capability to
create a combined arms dilemma,” said Capt. Matt S. Frost, a
targeting information officer with the 11th MEU. “This weapon system
brings another dimension to the maritime battlespace.”
Aerial refueling, also known as
air-to-air refueling, refers to the process of transferring of fuel
from a military tanker aircraft to fixed-wing jets, helicopters and
other military aircraft while in flight. Aerial refueling is
utilized to extend the range or flight time, and doing it at night
takes special consideration, training and utmost care. Night aerial
refueling is a complex process due to limited visibility, but it
enhances the ability of air assets to gain an advantage over
potential adversaries around the clock. CTF 76 and 79 exercised
command and control from distributed locations to coordinate the
events and carefully synchronized air, land and sea movements, which
showcases the ability to seize key terrain in a contested
environment and help defend allies in the region if called upon. The U.S. Marines | Marines - The Few, The Proud | Our Valiant Troops | I Am The One | Veterans | Citizens Like Us U.S. Marines Gifts | U.S. Marine Corps | U.S. Department of Defense |
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