United in Strength: aircraft line the runway at Kadena Air Base Published Nov. 22, 2023 By 18th Wing Public Affairs 18th Wing Public Affairs KADENA AIE BASE, Japan -- Just another Tuesday at Kadena Air Base! Every day, the 18th Wing and its mission partners on base conduct joint air operations featuring a range of unique aircraft, but you don’t always get to see it in one place. Team Kadena generated a diverse array of aircraft on Nov. 21, 2023, as part of an elephant walk, to demonstrate a portion of the more than 100 aircraft that operate from the Keystone of the Pacific. These aircraft then launched to fly a combination of higher headquarters tasked missions and large-force engagement exercises. Kadena’s ability to rapidly project joint airpower is a vital function that supports the defense of Japan and ensures the stability and security of the Indo-Pacific region.