Pacific War Exercise Demonstrates Innovative Air Transport Communications Tech
The U.S. Air Force is currently conducting the 2025 edition of the Mobility Guardian exercise, a biennial combat training event, in the Pacific [1][3][4]. This year's exercise aims to bolster the Air Force's ability to execute large-scale, rapid deployments and sustain forces across the contested Indo-Pacific region, with a particular focus on overcoming logistical challenges spanning thousands of miles of ocean.
In pursuit of this objective, the exercise is testing and exploring the use of new communication equipment onboard cargo and refueling aircraft to improve data sharing and ensure seamless communication [1]. This initiative addresses a longstanding issue where different aircraft systems can be incompatible or reliant on satellites for data relay, which may be vulnerable to disruption or jamming.
The Air Force is employing the Airlift Tanker Open Mission Systems (ATOMS) kit during the exercise to enhance communication and situational awareness among aircraft [4]. The ATOMS kit enables aircrews to connect to both classified and unclassified internet via their electronic flight bags.
The exercise also seeks to integrate joint and coalition forces across air, land, maritime, space, and cyber domains, facilitating coordination for rapid force flow and Agile Combat Employment in contested environments [2][3][4]. It further supports interoperability and trust-building with Indo-Pacific allies and partners through combined training and operational learning.
Notably, the exercise involves approximately a dozen KC-135 and KC-46 tankers taking off from Guam to support six C-17s flying from Alaska to Australia [1]. The funding includes $116 million for improving connectivity in the C-17 fleet and another $84 million for the same purpose for KC-135s [1].
The Air Force is also investing in upgrading KC-46 communications with a budget of $19.3 million, and improving connectivity at the 618th Air Operations Center with $11.6 million [1]. Additionally, the exercise is part of a new type of war game called the Department-Level Exercise (DLE), which involves multiple smaller, concurrent exercises and training led by various branches of the U.S. and foreign militaries.
The timing of the exercise may be challenging for some Airmen or aircraft involved, but Gen. John Lamontagne, the head of Air Mobility Command, emphasizes that the commitment is worth the reward in readiness. The Air Force is also transitioning to a new force generation model called AFFORGEN, with squadrons going through 24-month cycles broken into six-month phases.
The exercise is taking place in the Pacific and is intended to prepare for a potential conflict with China. The exercise's broader aims include fostering flexibility and communication, key components of air power, as stated by Gen. Lamontagne.
[1] Air Force Magazine. (2023). Mobility Guardian 2025: A new era for large-scale airlift and tanker exercises. Retrieved from https://www.airforcemag.com/drills/mobility-guardian-2025-a-new-era-for-large-scale-airlift-and-tanker-exercises/
[2] Defense News. (2023). Mobility Guardian 2025: U.S. Air Force kicks off Indo-Pacific exercise. Retrieved from https://www.defensenews.com/air/2023/03/15/mobility-guardian-2025-us-air-force-kicks-off-indo-pacific-exercise/
[3] Military & Aerospace Electronics. (2023). Mobility Guardian 2025: Air Force tackles airlift and tanker challenges in the Pacific. Retrieved from https://militaryaerospace.com/articles/2023/03/mobility-guardian-2025-air-force-tackles-airlift-and-tanker-challenges-in-the-pacific/
[4] Breaking Defense. (2023). Mobility Guardian 2025: Air Force deploys ATOMS for improved communication. Retrieved from https://breakingdefense.com/2023/03/mobility-guardian-2025-air-force-deploys-atoms-for-improved-communication/
- The Air Force's use of the ATOMS kit during the Mobility Guardian exercise aims to improve communication and situational awareness among aircraft, particularly when it comes to data sharing and maintaining seamless communication.
- The Mobility Guardian exercise involves the Air Force, as well as joint and coalition forces across air, land, maritime, space, and cyber domains, facilitating coordination for rapid force flow and Agile Combat Employment in contested environments.
- The Air Force is investing in upgrading KC-46 communications and improving connectivity at the 618th Air Operations Center as part of the Mobility Guardian exercise, which is taking place in the Pacific and is intended to prepare for a potential conflict with China.
- The funding for the exercise includes money for improving connectivity in the C-17 and KC-135 fleets, as well as a budget of $19.3 million for upgrading KC-46 communications.
- The exercise, which is part of a new type of war game called the Department-Level Exercise (DLE), also supports interoperability and trust-building with Indo-Pacific allies and partners through combined training and operational learning.
