Photo By Senior Airman Jonathan Sifuentes | An F-35A Lightning II assigned to the 356th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron, deployed...... read more read more
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KADENA AIR BASE, Japan – U.S. Air Force F-35A Lightning IIs assigned to the 356th Expeditionary Fighter Squadron and Airmen from the 356th Fighter Generation Squadron, deployed to Kadena Air Base, conducted a contested airspace simulation in support of base-wide operational readiness exercise BH 26-1at Kadena Air Base, Japan, Nov. 5, 2025.
The exercise allowed pilots and maintainers to execute high-tempo operations under simulated wartime conditions, enhancing their ability to operate effectively during contingency missions.
“Balancing safety of flight and the operational risks that come with an exercise of this scale has been one of our biggest challenges,” said Capt. Christian Kuhn, 356th EFS F-35A pilot. “Maintaining clear communication between multiple agencies is key. It’s what ensures we can deliver airpower at a moment’s notice.”
The 356th EFS, a combat-coded fifth-generation fighter squadron, specializes in offensive counter-air missions across the Indo-Pacific. Using advanced sensor suites and precision weapons systems, the F-35A enables Airmen to locate, engage, and neutralize threats in dynamic and contested environments.
“Conducting high-tempo exercises like this is standard for us,” said Capt. Gabriel Orren, 356th EFS F-35A pilot. “We continuously refine our capabilities, learning from each scenario to maintain readiness for real-world missions.”
Exercises like BH 26-1 provide vital opportunities for Airmen to hone their technical skills, strengthen joint coordination, and validate Kadena’s ability to project decisive airpower across the Indo-Pacific.
Tenant units such as the 356th EFS play a critical role in the 18th Wing’s mission to assure allies, deter aggression, and defend peace in the region.
| Date Taken: | 11.05.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.14.2025 01:54 |
| Story ID: | 550770 |
| Location: | KADENA AIR BASE, OKINAWA, JP |
| Web Views: | 4 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, BH 26-1: 356th Expeditionary and Fighter Generation Squadrons Demonstrate Combat Readiness, by SrA Jonathan Sifuentes, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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