Japan, Germany conduct first-ever bilateral Air Force drills in Indo-Pacific

Asia-Pacific, Europe, News September 30, 2022 , by IRIA No Comments

The Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) conducted its first-ever bilateral joint military drill with the German Air Force in the Japanese air space.

A fleet of Eurofighter Typhoon jets led by the German Air Force Chief Lt. General Ingo Gerhartz landed at Japan’s Hyakuri Air Base near Tokyo on September 28, after an eight-hour-long flight from Singapore. This marked the first time that German Eurofighter jets visited Japan.

Three Japanese F-2 fighters participated in the bilateral exercise. One of the two F-2 jets was being piloted by the JASDF Chief of Staff Gen. Shunji Izutsu. Participation of the high-ranking air force officials from both sides also reaffirmed Japan’s support for the NATO alliance.

According to the JASDF, the German and Japanese bilateral drill was aimed to “maintain and strengthen the free and open Indo-Pacific region.”

“The exercise proved that we can move through the area speedily,” Lt. Gen. Gerhartz said afterward concluding the drills. “We will continue to be involved in this region,” Gerhartz added.

Germany is on a path to increasing its military presence and stakes in Asia. It all started when Germany deployed one of its Hamburg-class Frigate Bayern in the East Asian region in August 2021. It was the first time a German warship was deployed in Asia in almost 20 years.

German defense minister Christine Lambrecht stated last month that despite the war in Ukraine being Germany’s top priority, Asia had not been forgotten. “We are at the side of all of those who stand for our values such as democracy, freedom, and security, and are also willing to contribute,” she said.

“Our focus at the moment is naturally on the eastern flank, for which Russia’s brutal war of aggression is to blame, but we also have to keep an eye on other regions,” Lambrecht added.

*^{German Air Force has sent a fleet of 13 aircraft for its first-ever deployment to the Indo-Pacific region for Exercise Pitch Black 2022. (Image Credit: Twitter/Team_Luftwaffe)}*

In August 2022, the German Air Force sent a fleet of 13 aircraft for its first-ever deployment to the Indo-Pacific region to demonstrate Germany’s operational capability and show solidarity with its allies. The German Air Force took part Australian-led Pitch Black 2022 exercise along with more than 100 aircraft from 17 different countries.

Pitch Black 2022 took place in Australia’s Northern Territories from August 19 to September 8, 2022, and aimed to enhance regional security in the Indo-Pacific region. During the exercise, the German Air Force deployed its aerial refueling planes to the Indo-Pacific for the first time. The refueling planes were also used during the bilateral drills with Japan.