Faces of Keen Sword 27 - Cpt. Yuki Sato

In Japan, the U.S. military and Japanese Self-Defense Forces are conducting Exercise Keen Sword 27, with 45,000 Japan Self-Defense Force, 11,000 U.S. service members and forces from Australia, Canada, France, Germany, the Netherlands, New Zealand and the Philippines. Participating allied forces have engaged in a wide range of training activities, testing and improving their capabilities, coordination, and integration on the land, in the air and at sea. At Iruma Air Base in Saitama, Japan, the Japan Air Self-Defense Force and the German Air Force conducted a joint static display of transport aircraft to showcase theater medevac capability.

Japan Air Self-Defense Force Captain Yuki Sato, a Kawasaki C-2 pilot stationed at Iruma Air Base and assigned to the 402nd Tactical Airlift Squadron, spoke highly of Keen Sword and the opportunity to demonstrate joint interoperability. “Our nations are committed to free operation in the Pacific, always,” said Sato.

The Kawasaki C-2 is a Japanese mid-size, twin-engine, long-range transport aircraft capable of flying over 6,000 miles and can be configured to meet several different roles based on mission requirements. The C-2 is a critical piece of Japanese regional medevac capabilities and is one of many joint force aircraft on display during Keen Sword 27. Sato was complimentary of joint training opportunities, stating “We get training 24/7 with the U.S. Air Force, Navy, Army, Marine Corps and NATO allies.”

While training as a foreign exchange student pilot in the United States at Columbus Air Force Base, Sato was particularly fond of a beloved chain “when I was in the United States, my American friend, he took me to Buc-ee’s. How cool brisket is – I love brisket!”

The Iruma Air Base static display, which consisted of a German Air Force Airbus A400 in addition to the C-2, was one just one stop on a Distinguished Visitor tour that observed many of the day’s key training activities. During the static display, pilots of each airframe gave a tour of their aircraft while medical personnel provided an overview of medical capabilities onboard the aircraft. Capt. Sato expressed his pride and excitement to provide a tour of his aircraft to the senior officials. “This static display is the greatest opportunity to show how strong our alliance is to the whole world.”

Keen Sword is a routine, biennial bilateral field training exercise with multinational participation, designed to increase readiness and interoperability between the U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan Alliance.

(U.S. Army story by Capt. Robert Waller)

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