A warm welcome greeted 75 Squadron on arrival at Komatsu Air Base in Japan for the bilateral air combat activity Exercise Bushido Guardian.
The two-week exercise began on September 4 and was the first time the RAAF F-35A Lightning IIs have travelled to Japan as part of the biennial exercise.
In his welcoming address, Commanding Officer 75 Squadron Wing Commander Martin Parker acknowledged the significance of the moment to the partnership between the RAAF and the Japanese Air Self-Defense Force (Koku-Jieitai).
“The Dragons, Eagles and Magpies are writing history here today in Komatsu,” Wing Commander Parker said.
“We believe in our special strategic partnership and 75 Squadron is here, ready and excited to play our role.”
The exercise was preceded by the first-time visit of Koku Jieitai F-35As to RAAF Base Tindal in Australia and the implementation of a Reciprocal Access Agreement (RAA) between Japan and Australia last month.
75 Squadron’s role in Exercise Bushido Guardian is planning and carrying out flying missions with Koku Jieitai counterparts flying fourth- and fifth-generation platforms, including the F-15J Eagle, Mitsubishi F-2A and F-35A.
Commander Task Unit 640.29.1 Wing Commander Melanie Buswell said this far-from-home location gives the 170 Australian personnel a chance to build experience in unfamiliar airspaces.
“Exercising with our colleagues in the Koku Jieitai provides us an opportunity to deepen our understanding of each other, broaden our strategic relationships, and helps us to become more interoperable,” Wing Commander Buswell said.
“Our shared values are the foundation for our partnership and mateship.”
Exercise Bushido Guardian is the first application of the RAA in Japan since it came into force last month. Deputy Head of Mission to Japan Peter Roberts said it was a historic milestone in the ongoing relationship between Australia and Japan.
“The RAA will streamline more effective force cooperation and enable each country to increase the sophistication and regularity of training, exercises and other cooperative activities,” Mr Roberts said.
“Every time we exercise like [Bushido Guardian] our systems understand each other more, we understand each other more and we learn how much we can do together.”
Wing Commander Parker said the exercise would build on partnerships and interoperability at the aviator level.
“The future is murky but we are stronger together, side by side,” he said.
