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5th Air Force

Fueling bilateral interoperability

U.S. Airmen from the 190th Air Refueling Wing conduct preflight checks on a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas, currently stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Feb. 24, 2022. The KC-135 Stratotanker can hold up to 200,000 pounds of fuel, which is pumped through the tanker’s flying boom and utilized mid-flight to refuel a variety of aircraft thus extending its global reach to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

U.S. Air Force Capts. Shane Dunn, left, and Todd Clain, KC-135 Stratotanker pilots assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas, currently assigned at Kadena Air Base, Japan, conduct an air refueling mission for F-35A Lightning IIs from the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, over the Indo-Pacific theater, Feb. 24, 2022. Pacific Air Forces utilize various aircraft to maintain a flexible theater posture to enhance its ability to provide DoD options to support our allies and partners in a free and open Indo-Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

Aircrew from the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, currently assigned at Kadena Air Base, Japan, conduct a KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling mission over the Indo-Pacific theater, Feb. 24, 2022. The crew refueled several F-35A Lighting IIs assigned to the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, as part of routine operational training to ensure a lethal force able to respond anytime, anywhere. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

Tech. Sgt. Lizzie Carey, an inflight refueler assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas, walks toward the boom pod to conduct an air refueling mission for F-35A Lightning IIs from the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, over the Indo-Pacific theater, Feb. 24, 2022. The KC-135 Stratotanker can hold up to 200,000 pounds of fuel, which is pumped through the tanker’s flying boom and utilized mid-flight to refuel a variety of aircraft thus extending its global reach to secure the Indo-Pacific theater. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

An F-35A Lightning II from the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, approaches a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas, over the Indo-Pacific theater, Feb. 24, 2022. The F-35As are currently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, conducting integrated operations with joint partners and allies to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

Tech. Sgt. Lizzie Carey, an inflight refueler assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas, conducts an air refueling mission for F-35A Lightning IIs from the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, over the Indo-Pacific theater, Feb. 24, 2022. The KC-135 Stratotanker can hold up to 200,000 pounds of fuel, which is pumped through the tanker’s flying boom and utilized mid-flight to refuel a variety of aircraft thus extending its global reach to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

An F-35A Lightning II from the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, receives fuel from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas, over the Indo-Pacific theater, Feb. 24, 2022. The F-35As are currently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, conducting integrated operations with joint partners and allies to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

An F-35A Lightning II from the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, departs from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas, after receiving fuel over the Indo-Pacific theater, Feb. 24, 2022. The F-35As are currently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, conducting integrated operations with joint partners and allies to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

Two Japan Air Self-Defense Force F-15MJs, two U.S. Air Force B-52s Stratofortresses and two U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs fly in a joint formation during a routine training mission over the Indo-Pacific theater, Feb. 24, 2022. U.S. and Japanese Airmen routinely train together to enhance bilateral interoperability in support of the defense of Japan while securing a free and open Indo-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

Two F-35A Lightning IIs from the 354th Fighter Wing, Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, depart from a KC-135 Stratotanker assigned to the 117th Air Refueling Squadron, Forbes Field Air National Guard Base, Topeka, Kansas, over the Indo-Pacific theater, Feb. 24, 2022. Aircrews routinely fly missions aimed at sharpening the necessary skills needed to respond to emerging situations at a moment’s notice. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla)

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Fueling bilateral interoperability

Published March 2, 2022
By Airman 1st Class Yosselin Perla
18th Wing Public Affairs

KADENA AIR BASE, Japan --