JMSDF Hosts Fifth ISR Air Symposium Published March 10, 2023 Fifth Air Force U.S. Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni, Japan -- The Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) hosted the fifth Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (ISR) Air Symposium at U.S. Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) Iwakuni and in the airspace around Kyushu from 6 to 8 March 2023. The participants included ISR aircrew & aircraft from the U.S. Air Force (USAF), the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF) and both the Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and JMSDF. In total, over 110 aircrew personnel and five aircraft participated, to include the RC-135 (USAF), P-8A (RAAF), RC-2 (JASDF) and both the EP-3 & OP-3 (JMSDF). Key activities included in-air communications checks and testing of secure airborne transmissions. Additionally, during the on-ground symposium each nation’s aircrew outlined key intelligence sharing processes and discussed their respective aircraft’s ISR capabilities. Furthermore, each aircrew delivered comprehensive on-board orientations to their aircraft. These communication checks, briefings and orientations help the participating nations to identify solutions to operational challenges which in turn, drastically advances our trilateral ISR integration and interoperability in defense of the first-island chain and the Indo-Pacific region. With the continued support of our allies and partners, we remain vigilant in our resolve to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific.