Northern Territory, 12 September 2022 (TDI): The United States Air Force General, Ken Wilsbach, Pacific Air Forces commander, Royal Australian Air Force, Air Marshal Rob Chipman, and German Air Force Chief, Lt. General Ingo Gerhartz, flew fighter aircraft over Australia’s Northern Territory to demonstrate friendship and collaborative leadership.
Sharing air space. 🇺🇸 🇩🇪 🇦🇺@USAirForce Gen. Ken Wilsbach, @PACAF commander; German Air Force Air Chief, Lt. Gen. Ingo Gerhartz; and @AusAirForce Air Marshal Rob Chipman, RAAF Chief, flew over Australia’s Northern Territory to demonstrate friendship and cooperative leadership. pic.twitter.com/uPiUaVLLTj
— Department of Defense 🇺🇸 (@DeptofDefense) September 12, 2022
Wilsbach flew an F-22 Raptor, Gerhartz a Eurofighter, and Chipman a RAAF EA-18G Growler as part of a dynamic force employment exercise meant to boost the lethality of forces in disputed areas and enhance interoperability across joint, allied, and partner nation troops.
Remarks by the United States Air Force General
“When we talk about interoperability, it’s not only about platforms and systems, but also the interoperability of our Airmen,” Wilsbach said. “We are talking about building trust with our allies and partners.”
“This is just a small demonstration among the many we make on a daily basis to show that our Airmen are dedicated, trained, and ready to deliver airpower to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific,” Wilsbach explained.
“Adversaries that look to disrupt the security and stability in this region be warned — you will face a combined global network of allies and partners who have been training together for decades to operate seamlessly against you.”
International cooperation for the preservation of a free and open Indo-Pacific is predicated on the desire to build upon multilateral foundational capabilities. Leaders frequently set the standard for the growth of international connections.
Also read: US starts allied military exercises in Jordan
Remarks by German Air Force Chief
“I’m proud to be a fighter pilot and lead my forces from the front,” Gerhartz said. “Getting to fly alongside America and our other allies makes me feel even more confident in our interoperability.”
The air chiefs highlighted allies and partners as an asymmetric advantage in long-term battles with adversaries who attempt to undermine shared values and international conventions.
Through frequent exercises, leadership exchanges, and other international activities, Pacific Air Forces enhance global trust through the development of global partnerships.
