US Air Force Also Deploys F-35A for 'Elephant Walk' Training

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] On the 25th, the United States conducted an 'Elephant Walk' ground taxiing exercise at the Alaska Air Force Base, mobilizing dozens of F-35A stealth fighters. It was the same day that the Republic of Korea Air Force conducted the same training using the same type of fighter jets.

'Elephant Walk' is a training exercise where multiple fighter jets, fully armed, taxi in close formation on the runway just before takeoff.

According to the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command on the 29th, the U.S. Air Force conducted the 'Elephant Walk' exercise on the 25th (local time) at Eielson Air Force Base in Alaska, deploying 42 F-35A fighters.

This exercise simulates rapid deployment of fully armed fighters and bombers in preparation for full-scale war or emergencies. The name comes from the way the military aircraft move together, resembling a herd of elephants walking simultaneously.

Colonel David Buckland of the U.S. Air Force 354th Fighter Wing said, "Since the last (Elephant Walk) exercise in December 2020, we have learned a lot about operating the F-35 in Arctic conditions," adding, "Our wing and Eielson Base are ready to provide 5th generation airpower (F-35A) anytime and anywhere."

After completing the Elephant Walk exercise, the U.S. Air Force's F-35A fighters immediately conducted sortie training at the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex (JPARC). The U.S. Air Force's large-scale deployment of F-35As for training in Alaska after 16 months is analyzed to be closely related to North Korea's recent successive provocations.

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