A contingent of more than 30 military aircraft from Germany, France and Spain will arrive in Japan next month to conduct a series of training exercises with the Air Self-Defense Force, the Defense Ministry said Tuesday, marking these countries’ first-ever trilateral air force deployment to the Indo-Pacific.
Aimed at improving tactical skills and promoting mutual understanding, the July 19 aerial maneuvers are part of the two-month, trinational Pacific Skies deployment that will see the German, French and Spanish air forces exercise with regional partners including Japan, India, Australia and the United States.
The ASDF’s drills with France will take place on July 19 and 20 in the airspace around Hyakuri Air Base in Ibaraki Prefecture, while those with both Germany and Spain will be held in the airspace around Chitose Air Base in Hokkaido, according to the ministry.
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