KS25: US, JSDF conduct C-17 static loading test Published Feb. 11, 2025 By 2nd Lt. Christopher Winters, Yasuo Osakabe 730th Air Mobility Squadron Public Affairs NAVAL AIR FACILITY ATSUGI, Japan -- Approximately 60 members from the Japan Ground Self-Defense Force, Japan Air Self-Defense Force and U.S. Air Force conducted a C-17 Globemaster III static loading test at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan Feb. 3-4. The training event was a part of Keen Sword 25, a bilateral training exercise that took place in the vicinity of Japan from Oct. 23, 2024, through Nov. 1, 2024. U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Erin Wang, center, 535th Airlift Squadron C-17 loadmaster, gives a safety briefing to Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldiers assigned to the 1st Helicopter Brigade before loading a JGSDF CH-47JA Chinook helicopter in support of Keen Sword 25 at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Feb. 4, 2025. U.S. Airmen and JGSDF soldiers conducted a static loading of a JGSDF CH-47JA into a USAF C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 535th AS. Keen Sword is a biennial field training exercise involving members of the U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces. It is designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res Keen Sword demonstrates and advances interoperability, validates force posture, and reinforces solidarity of the U.S.-Japan alliance by exercising the most modern equipment and procedures under realistic conditions. “A C-17 loading test was postponed during KS25,” said Jake Carrico, U.S. Forces, Japan transportation planning specialist. “Japan Self-Defense Forces requested the training event be rescheduled for February 2025 to meet this training exercise objective.” From right, U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Erin Wang and Staff Sgt. Willem Mitstifer, 535th Airlift Squadron C-17 loadmasters, teach members of the Japan Air Self-Defense Force how to restrain a vehicle using an MB-2 device in a USAF C-17 Globemaster III during a C-17 static loading test in support of Keen Sword 25 at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Feb. 4, 2025. USAF and JASDF airmen conducted a static loading of a JASDF Antenna Mast Group vehicle and MIM-104 Patriot missile system into a USAF C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 535th Airlift Squadron. Keen Sword is a biennial field training exercise involving members of the U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces. It is designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The training included a joint inspection, load planning, and a C-17 static loading test with Japan Self-Defense Forces members from the 1st Helicopter Brigade, and Japan Air Self-Defense Force Central Air Defense Missile Group. Also, U.S. Air Force members from 730th Air Mobility Squadron and 374th Logistics Readiness Squadron, Yokota Air Base, and 535th Airlift Squadron, Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, Hawaii. “This is important bilateral training event provides JGSDF and JASDF members to practice contingency-loading of their equipment on a U.S. Air Force C-17,” said Carrico. During the two-day training event, JGSDF members conducted their CH-47JA Chinook helicopter loading onto a USAF C-17. Also, JASDF members loaded their Antenna Mast Group vehicle and MIM-104 Patriot missile system, including U.S. Air Force loading members conducted joint inspections and load planning according to the Air Transportation Test Loading Activity (ATTLA). “The ATTLA provides instructions on how to prepare and transport equipment, including foreign nations, on U.S. Air Force aircraft.” said Staff Sgt. Eric Shaah, 730th Air Mobility Squadron air transportation specialist. “We inspected cargo for airworthiness to include hazardous materials check, cargo build up, and proper vehicle transport configurations.” U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Cain Pamintuan, 730th Air Mobility Squadron air freight technician, writes the center axle weight of a Japan Air Self-Defense Force MIM-104 Patriot missile system assigned to the Central Air Defense Missile Group during a joint inspection prior to conducting a C-17 static loading test in support of Keen Sword 25 at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Feb. 3, 2025. U.S. and Japan Air Self-Defense Force airmen conducted a static loading of a JASDF Antenna Mast Group vehicle and MIM-104 Patriot missile system into a USAF C-17 Globemaster III assigned to the 535th Airlift Squadron. Keen Sword is a biennial field training exercise involving U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces members. It is designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res The two-day exercise offered the opportunity to liaise with the JSDF in a show of bilateral interoperability and to use the safest and most efficient methods to upload and download their assets using U.S. airlift. “In total 143,000 pounds of rolling stock were prepared, loaded, and unloaded from a C-17.” said Shaah. According to a senior JASDF official, using the C-17 cargo aircraft enables a strategic capability to reconfigure large assets like the CH-47 Chinook transport helicopter for airlift around the country. “Exercising the capability to support and collaborate with our partner nations strengthens our ability to project combat power anywhere on the globe,” said Shaah, “During these two days, we were able to demonstrate the joint inspection requirements to the JASDF and JGSDF so that they have familiarization with the mathematical computations and loading process in the event that they need to deploy their equipment and personnel via mobility airlift.” A Japan Ground Self-Defense Force soldier assigned to the 1st Helicopter Brigade observes the clearance between a U.S. Air Force C-17 Globemaster III cargo bay and JGSDF CH-47JA Chinook helicopter during a C-17 static loading test in support of Keen Sword 25 at Naval Air Facility Atsugi, Japan, Feb. 4, 2025. Keen Sword is a biennial field training exercise involving members of the U.S. military and Japan Self-Defense Forces. It is designed to increase readiness and interoperability while strengthening the ironclad U.S.-Japan alliance. (U.S. Air Force photo by Yasuo Osakabe) Photo Details / Download Hi-Res This training provides an enhanced mutual understanding of aircraft loading procedures and strengthens cooperation between U.S. Air Force and the JSDF to respond to humanitarian crisis or contingency. The U.S.-Japan alliance has served as the foundation for regional peace and security for nearly 75 years and remains indispensable to our mutual security interests in the Indo-Pacific.