Forceful Tiger 2016

Forceful Tiger is a large force exercise in which the U.S. Air Force’s 18th Wing has to defend Okinawa.

A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, flies in support of Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The 18th AGRS, which opened Aug. 24, 2007, provides challenging, yet realistic threat replication training in order to prepare Air Force, joint and allied aircrews for potential aerial combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, flies in support of Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The 18th AGRS, which opened Aug. 24, 2007, provides challenging, yet realistic threat replication training in order to prepare Air Force, joint and allied aircrews for potential aerial combat. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)


A U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker during Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. Kadena boasts two squadrons of F-15s – the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons. Each squadron has claimed the coveted Raytheon Trophy as the best fighter squadron in the Air Force on multiple occasions since they were formed 75 years ago. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force F-15 Eagle stationed at Kadena Air Base, Japan, refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker during Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. Kadena boasts two squadrons of F-15s – the 44th and 67th Fighter Squadrons. Each squadron has claimed the coveted Raytheon Trophy as the best fighter squadron in the Air Force on multiple occasions since they were formed 75 years ago. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)

A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker pilot from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron adjusts the aircraft’s engine throttles before takeoff from Kadena Air Base, Japan, during Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016.  Forceful Tiger is an annual large force exercise designed to demonstrate the U.S. military’s combat capabilities in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force KC-135 Stratotanker pilot from the 909th Air Refueling Squadron adjusts the aircraft’s engine throttles before takeoff from Kadena Air Base, Japan, during Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016. Forceful Tiger is an annual large force exercise designed to demonstrate the U.S. military’s combat capabilities in the region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
U.S. Air Force aircraft maintainers from the 909th Aircraft Maintenance Unit prepare a KC-135 Stratotanker for takeoff during Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Thanks to the maintainers at the 909th AMU, the 909th Air Refueling Squadron was able to generate 15 KC-135 sorties with a 100-percent mission success rate for the large force exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
U.S. Air Force aircraft maintainers from the 909th Aircraft Maintenance Unit prepare a KC-135 Stratotanker for takeoff during Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Thanks to the maintainers at the 909th AMU, the 909th Air Refueling Squadron was able to generate 15 KC-135 sorties with a 100-percent mission success rate for the large force exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, links up with a 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker for refueling Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. During the large force exercise, the 909th ARS refueled a total of 132 aircraft to include 65 F-15 Eagles, 14 F-16 Fighting Falcons, 32 F-22 Raptors and one E-3 Sentry, as well as 20 U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, links up with a 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker for refueling Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. During the large force exercise, the 909th ARS refueled a total of 132 aircraft to include 65 F-15 Eagles, 14 F-16 Fighting Falcons, 32 F-22 Raptors and one E-3 Sentry, as well as 20 U.S. Marine Corps F/A-18 Hornets. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)

U.S. Air Force Capt. Christopher Thompson, 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilot, scans the horizon for other aircraft during Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The 909th ARS, which is charged with supplying fuel to other aircraft in flight, delivered a total of 1.3 million pounds of fuel to more than 130 aircraft during the large force exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
U.S. Air Force Capt. Christopher Thompson, 909th Air Refueling Squadron KC-135 Stratotanker pilot, scans the horizon for other aircraft during Forceful Tiger Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The 909th ARS, which is charged with supplying fuel to other aircraft in flight, delivered a total of 1.3 million pounds of fuel to more than 130 aircraft during the large force exercise. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryan Hortman, 909th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, refuels an 18th Aggressor Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon during Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The KC-135 has provided the ability to project forces anywhere in the world since it first entered the service in 1957. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
U.S. Air Force Airman 1st Class Ryan Hortman, 909th Air Refueling Squadron boom operator, refuels an 18th Aggressor Squadron F-16 Fighting Falcon during Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The KC-135 has provided the ability to project forces anywhere in the world since it first entered the service in 1957. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker during Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The 18th AGRS, stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, recently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, for joint and bilateral training to bolster mission readiness in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker during Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The 18th AGRS, stationed at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, recently deployed to Kadena Air Base, Japan, for joint and bilateral training to bolster mission readiness in the Indo-Asia-Pacific region. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker during Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The F-16 is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft designed to provide air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack capabilities as a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the U.S. and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
A U.S. Air Force F-16 Fighting Falcon from the 18th Aggressor Squadron refuels from a KC-135 Stratotanker during Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, near Okinawa, Japan. The F-16 is a compact, multi-role fighter aircraft designed to provide air-to-air combat and air-to-surface attack capabilities as a relatively low-cost, high-performance weapon system for the U.S. and allied nations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Lawrence, 909th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, performs engine oil checks on a KC-135 Stratotanker following its flight in support of Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Air Force maintainers are the backbone for providing the force with highly capable aircraft capable of supporting and defending allies all around the globe. Without the diligence of the 909th AMU, the quickly aging aircraft would be unable to support the mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)
U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Michael Lawrence, 909th Aircraft Maintenance Unit crew chief, performs engine oil checks on a KC-135 Stratotanker following its flight in support of Forceful Tiger, Jan. 28, 2016, at Kadena Air Base, Japan. Air Force maintainers are the backbone for providing the force with highly capable aircraft capable of supporting and defending allies all around the globe. Without the diligence of the 909th AMU, the quickly aging aircraft would be unable to support the mission in the Indo-Asia-Pacific. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Maeson L. Elleman)

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