ABOARD THE USS KITTY HAWK (AP) - A U.S. aircraft carrier battle group, a contingent of Marines and dozens of Air Force fighter jets have conducted one of their biggest inter-service exercises of the year off the southern Japanese island of Okinawa.
The maneuvers, which began Aug. 7, involved more than 100 military planes - including B-2 stealth bombers from the island of Guam, as well as the USS Kitty Hawk aircraft carrier and its battle group. Fighters launched from the deck of this carrier in intervals of less than two minutes roared through the skies Thursday seeking out imaginary enemies and targets. ``This is the highest-level joint exercise we can have outside the United States,'' said battle group commander Rear Adm. Doug McLain. ``We're operating the entire spectrum of warfare.''
The maneuvers, called JASEX, come on the heels of statements from the Pentagon indicating an increased concern over the modernization of China's military, and amid talks aimed at persuading North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons program. Battle group commander McLain stressed that the exercises, scheduled to continue through Sunday, were mainly designed to improve cooperation and interoperability between the different branches of the U.S. military.
JASEX has been held annually since 2003. |