US, JSDF Conclude Exercise Keen Sword 15

U.S. and Japan Self-Defense Forces (JSDF) wrapped up Exercise Keen Sword 15 with a display of naval and air power of 19 ships and seven aircraft operating in formation a few hundred miles off the coast of Southern Japan, Nov. 19.

Keen Sword 15, kicking off Nov.11 with the George Washington Carrier Strike Group, is a large and complex joint/bilateral field training exercise involving four branches of the U.S. military working with JSDF and is designed to increase combat readiness and interoperability of the two countries.

Rear Adm. John Alexander, commander, Battle Force 7th Fleet, said:

[Keen Sword] enhances our combat readiness by working together in an exercise environment that is challenging and allows us to improve our processes between one another.

Japan is one of our strongest allies, and the fact that we are able to work together and coordinate quickly with similar procedures and processes, makes us better to respond together in a crisis situation.

This training between the U.S. and Japan has been a routine, recurring event for many years.

In addition to working across in all warfare areas, participating Navy and JMSDF ships swapped liaison officers to improve the communication and coordination of the exercise. One of the highlights for this year’s exercise was JMSDF Rear Adm. Hidetoshi Iwasaki, commander, Escort Force (CCF) 2, who operated as the sea combatant commander by coordinating scheme of maneuver for the strike group surface combatants.

Approximately 11,000 U.S. personnel participated in the 11th iteration of the exercise.

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Press release, Image: US Navy