The Air Mobility Command (AMC) of the US Air Force (USAF) and a number of allied air forces initiated Exercise ‘Mobility Guardian 2023’ (MG23) in the Indo-Pacific region on 5 July.
An evolution from the exercise’s previous three US-based iterations, MG23 is the largest full-spectrum readiness exercise in AMC history. The exercise’s aim is to understand and overcome distance to deliver the mobilisation, deployment and sustainment functions that the Joint Force, allies and partners depend on to respond to challenges worldwide.
“It should be evident by now that success of the Joint Force requires a capable and integrated Mobility Air Force [MAF],” General Mike Minihan, AMC commander, was quoted as saying in a USAF press release. “MG23 will turn planned integration into operational integration within the theatre, stretching MAF capabilities to meet future demands and protect shared international interests with our allies and partners.”
MG23 involves around 70 transport aircraft from the USAF and the air forces of six US allies: Australia, Canada, France, Japan New Zealand and the United Kingdom. The exercise is being held until 21 July across multiple locations spanning 3,000 miles.
“MG23 will employ 3,000 personnel in direct support of the exercise and expects to support more than 15,000 US forces, and allied and partner participants associated with other exercises this year: seven times that of MG21 and nearly three times that of MG19,” the USAF stated.
“Each participating country has the opportunity to hone vital readiness skills and enhance interoperability in operationally limited environments among multiple mission areas to include airlift, aerial refuelling, aeromedical evacuation, the [USAF’s] Global Air Mobility Support System, command and control, and humanitarian and disaster assistance.”
A UK Royal Air Force asset in the form of an A400M Atlas transport aircraft made history in advance of attending MG23 when it flew for 20 hours and 36 minutes from RAF Brize Norton to the US Western Pacific island territory of Guam on 3-4 July: the type’s longest-ever non-stop flight. The A400M was refuelled mid-flight three times during its flight by RAF Voyager aerial refuelling aircraft, one of which also attended MG23.
Peter Felstead
