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The United States Department of the Air Force (DAF) has launched the largest Department-Level Exercise (DLE) in the Indo-Pacific region since the end of the Cold War. The drills have mobilized more than 12,000 U.S. Air and Space Force personnel and over 350 aircraft.

The scale, speed, and integration of the exercise reflect Washington’s intensifying strategic focus on countering emerging threats in the region, particularly from peer adversaries like China. Unlike routine drills, this exercise consolidates several previously separate U.S. military training programs into one unified scenario, signaling a shift in how the U.S. prepares for future high-intensity conflicts.

“This exercise, the first of its kind since the Cold War, marks a pivotal moment for our Air Force and Space Force, bringing together Airmen and Guardians to bolster our nation’s warfighting capabilities,” said Secretary of the Air Force Troy Meink.

“Training like this alongside the Joint Force, our allies and partners in realistic operating environments using distributed operations is how we integrate capabilities to overcome any national security challenge,” he added.

The Department-Level Exercise incorporates multiple legacy training operations under a single umbrella, including Resolute Force Pacific (REFORPAC), Resolute Space, Mobility Guardian, Emerald Warrior, and Bamboo Eagle 25-3. These drills encompass all domains, air, space, and cyberspace, showcasing a multidimensional, integrated force posture capable of addressing the complex threats of 21st-century warfare.

The @usairforce & @SpaceForceDoD just kicked off a historic Department-Level Exercise in the Pacific – the first of its kind since the Cold War, marking a pivotal moment for #Airmen & #Guardians to bolster our nation’s warfighting capabilities. #DLE2025 https://t.co/6zzQci6nCG

— Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (@SecAFOfficial) July 8, 2025

Full-spectrum training across the Indo-Pacific

The exercise includes over 350 aircraft of various classes, bombers, fighter jets, refueling tankers, and cargo planes, distributed across dozens of airbases and temporary forward operating locations. The drills simulate high-end conflict scenarios that demand rapid deployment, dynamic targeting, and joint force interoperability.

Beyond traditional air combat training, the DLE emphasizes Agile Combat Employment (ACE), a key operational concept that allows U.S. forces to operate flexibly and unpredictably across dispersed locations. This model is particularly suited to the Indo-Pacific’s geographic challenges, where long distances, limited basing infrastructure, and access denial threats from adversaries create significant hurdles.

“Exercising at this speed, scale, and tempo is how we prepare for the future fight,” said Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Allvin. “We need Airmen to move fast and think outside the box, disrupting the operational status quo. We also build trust and understanding through deliberate planning, operating, and learning alongside our partners across the Pacific.”

Overcoming the Indo-Pacific’s logistical challenge

Air Mobility Command (AMC), which plays a critical role in transporting troops and equipment across vast distances, has been laying the groundwork for this exercise for nearly two years. Building upon lessons learned from Mobility Guardian 2023, this year’s efforts aim to validate the military’s ability to execute large-scale logistics and sustainment under contested conditions.

“Validating our ability to sustain operations by rapidly flowing forces and conducting Agile Combat Employment (ACE) throughout the Indo-Pacific theater is essential,” Allvin emphasized. “Practicing these large muscle movements and learning to integrate seamlessly with our regional allies and partners ensures we can project power and provide options to the President.”

With growing concerns about the strategic balance in the Indo-Pacific, particularly amid China’s assertive posturing in the South China Sea and around Taiwan, the ability to project airpower quickly and reliably is central to U.S. defense planning.

Space operations integrated into combat readiness

A distinguishing feature of this exercise is the full integration of the U.S. Space Force under the Resolute Space component. This marks one of the largest simulations of contested space operations to date, focusing on electromagnetic warfare, orbital defense, navigational integrity, and domain awareness.

“Resolute Space sends a clear message: Guardians are prepared to fight and win in space shoulder to shoulder with our joint and allied partners,” said Chief of Space Operations Gen. Chance Saltzman. “By training at this unprecedented scale, we’re sharpening warfighter instincts, strengthening combat credibility and proving our commitment to deliver peace through strength in the face of any challenge.”

As satellites and space-based technologies become increasingly vital for surveillance, communication, and precision targeting, the U.S. military’s space integration in frontline exercises reflects the shifting nature of warfare into the exo-atmospheric domain.

Unified exercises, shared interests

This year’s DLE also features the participation of allied and partner nations in select modules. While specific countries have not been officially named, the exercise is widely seen as part of broader U.S. efforts to build an interoperable coalition in the Indo-Pacific. This aligns with growing security partnerships such as AUKUS (Australia, UK, U.S.), the Quad (U.S., India, Japan, Australia), and expanding bilateral ties with nations like the Philippines, South Korea, and Japan.

“The exercise is a clear manifestation of integrated deterrence,” said a senior defense official. “We are not only enhancing our readiness but also demonstrating to potential adversaries that the United States and its partners are united in safeguarding the rules-based international order.”

Strategic significance and timing

The launch of this exercise comes amid heightened geopolitical tensions, particularly surrounding Taiwan, maritime disputes in the South and East China Seas, and North Korea’s ongoing missile provocations. It also follows the increased tempo of military activity by China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA), including recent joint naval and air patrols with Russia.

By launching its largest Indo-Pacific exercise in decades, Washington is sending a strong message of resolve. The integration of conventional airpower, cutting-edge space capabilities, logistics, and multinational cooperation signals a comprehensive U.S. strategy to maintain strategic dominance and peace through preparedness.

Through this DLE, the Department of the Air Force aims to train forces for future conflicts as well as shape the regional security architecture in a way that supports the U.S. interests of deterring aggression and ensuring stability. As Secretary Meink emphasized, “This is how we integrate capabilities to overcome any national security challenge.”

The exercise is set to continue through the summer, with analysts expecting additional demonstrations of power projection and joint force interoperability. The world will be watching as the U.S. and its allies rehearse for a future that demands speed, coordination, and unwavering resolve.