Images Depicting Various Aircraft Involved in REFORPAC Operations, Including F-22s and CV-22s
Resolute Force Pacific 2025: The US Air Force's Largest Contingency Exercise
The United States Air Force is currently conducting its largest-ever contingency-response exercise in the Indo-Pacific region, named Resolute Force Pacific 2025 (REFORPAC 2025). This exercise, which began on July 10 and ends on August 8, aims to enhance readiness for rapid deployment, sustainment, and adaptation of airpower in contested and austere environments across the region.
The exercise operates on a massive scale, involving over 400 aircraft, more than 12,000 personnel, over 50 locations, and a geographic span of over 3,000 miles. It includes multiple branches of the U.S. military and allied partners from Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and more.
Andersen Air Force Base on Guam serves as a major hub for the exercise, with F-35s, F-22s, F-16s, B-52s, KC-46s, and C-130s operating from there. The Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI) and the islands of Tinian and Saipan have also been active, with F-22 fighter jets based out of Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, operating from these locations during the exercise.
Japan is another prominent location, with Naval Air Facility Atsugi hosting KC-135s from the 18th Wing at Kadena, and Marine Corps Air Station Iwakuni hosting F-16s from the 177th Fighter Wing of the New Jersey Air National Guard, a C-130J from Yokota, and a C-17 from the 437th Airlift Wing out of Joint Base Charleston, S.C. Misawa Air Base is another hub, with various visiting airframes.
Hawaii has also been involved, with aircraft passing through Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam including KC-135s, a C-17, and D.C. Air National Guard F-16s. In addition, B-52s from the 5th Bomb Wing at Minot Air Force Base, N.D., are visiting Guam for a bomber task force rotation.
The exercise features more than 300 aircraft, making it one of the biggest exercises in recent Air Force history. It includes dispersed flightline activities, munitions handling, hot-pit rapid refueling, combat search and rescue, distributed logistics, and multilateral air-to-air refueling, all under simulated contested or degraded conditions.
The Air & Space Forces Association is supporting the exercise, which focuses on preparing forces to operate with mobility, self-sufficiency, and rapid adaptability under stress, degraded communications, and supply interruptions. This reflects the strategic imperative to defend U.S., allied, and partner interests in the region robustly and collaboratively.
Notable aircraft involved in the exercise include F-35s from the 388th Fighter Wing at Hill Air Force Base, Utah, F-16s from the 35th Fighter Wing, Misawa's host unit, and an MC-130J from the 353rd Special Operations Wing at Kadena Air Base, Japan. The exercise was first announced by Chief of Staff Gen. David W. Goldfein in February 2024, and planning started shortly thereafter.
The exercise also includes support from various rescue units, such as HH-60Ws and an HC-130J from the New York Air National Guard's 106th Rescue Wing, and a C-17 from the Alaska Air National Guard's 176th Wing. A C-5M from the 436th Airlift Wing at Dover Air Force Base, Del., has also been part of the exercise.
[1] Air & Space Forces Magazine (2025). Resolute Force Pacific 2025: The US Air Force's Largest Contingency-Response Exercise in the Indo-Pacific Region
[2] Defense News (2025). US Air Force kicks off largest Indo-Pacific exercise in history
[3] Military.com (2025). US Air Force Launches Largest Indo-Pacific Exercise in History
[4] Stars and Stripes (2025). US Air Force launches largest Indo-Pacific exercise in history
[5] Task & Purpose (2025). The US Air Force just kicked off its largest-ever Indo-Pacific exercise
- The exercise, REFORPAC 2025, involves not just the US Air Force, but also the defense forces of Japan, South Korea, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Canada, and more.
- The exercise features fighter jets like F-35s, F-22s, and F-16s, along with other aircraft such as B-52s, KC-46s, and C-130s.
- The Air Force's focus on space is also evident in REFORPAC 2025, with plans for distributed logistics and multilateral air-to-air refueling under simulated contested or degraded conditions.
- The exercise also includes the development and use of various weapons, aiming to enhance the Air Force's ability to respond quickly and effectively in a contested environment.
- Alongside the military exercises, REFORPAC 2025 also involves a strategic emphasis on collaboration and security, mirroring the ideal of a Space Force working in tandem with the Air Force.
- While the exercise is primarily focused on defense and security, it doesn't exclude the element of sports. The Air Force has bases named after American football teams, such as the San Antonio Spurs Años, showcasing the integration of diverse interests within the military.
- In a marked parallel, the NFL and NCAA-Football seasons often start around the same time as REFPAC 2025, demonstrating the shared values of teamwork, strategy, and resilience between the sports and the military.
