Greater than 140 plane have been concerned within the train, in addition to a number of naval and floor property.
The U.S. Central Command and Israel Defense Forces not too long ago accomplished Juniper Oak 23.2, the biggest United States-Israel bilateral train in historical past. The train, which additionally included stay fireplace occasions, befell each on Israel soil and the Mediterranean Sea, with complicated, mixed navy operations on land, within the air and at sea involving greater than 140 plane, a number of naval and land property, 6,400 US troops and 1,500 Israeli troops.
From January 23 to 27, U.S. and Israeli mixed command and management, maritime air operations, fight search and rescue, digital warfare, suppression of enemy air defenses, air interdiction, and strike coordination capabilities have been put to the check. CENTCOM stated every thing from area property, a service strike group, strategic bombers, 5th gen fighter aircraft, digital warfare plane, Particular Operations forces, HIMARS missile launchers labored collectively in a Joint All-Area Command and Management (JADC2) situation on land, within the air, at sea, in area, and in our on-line world.
Stay fireplace engagements have been an integral a part of the train, with 180,000 pounds of live munitions employed. The House Power additionally took half in Juniper Oak, with low Earth and medium Earth orbit satellites beneath the management of the command’s new area part, SPACECENT.
Juniper Oak 23.2, the biggest ever US-Israel mixed train, continues.
Look 👀for the culminating Juniper Oak video tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/xyme9p5aPe
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 26, 2023
“It’s the biggest and most important train we have now engaged in collectively and is meant to exhibit that the U.S. dedication to Israel’s safety is ironclad and enduring,” stated Pentagon Press Secretary Air Power Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder. “All through the week-long engagement, greater than 140 plane, 12 naval vessels, Excessive Mobility Artillery Rocket Methods, and multiple-launch rocket methods will probably be used throughout this mixed, joint, all-domain train, rising our means to interoperate on land, within the air, at sea, in area and in our on-line world.”
Ryder additionally stated the Juniper Oak train will not be centered on defeating one adversary or menace, however is slightly focused on the interoperability of U.S. and Israeli forces, dismissing some earlier claims that the train was simulating an assault towards Iran. However, the train nonetheless represents a notable present of pressure from the 2 nations.
Air and Space Forces Magazine offered a full listing of the property concerned. Juniper Oak included a complete of 142 plane, each fixed-wing and helicopters. The 100 American plane included:
- 4 B-52s
- 4 F-35s
- Two MQ-9s
- One HC-130
- Two HH-68s
- 4 AH-64s
- One AC-130
- 4 F-15Es
- 4 F-16s
- 45 F/A 18s
- One RC-135
- Six EA-18s
- Two KC-46s
- 5 E-2Ds
- 15 MH-60s
Israeli forces employed 42 plane.
Right here’s the listing of IAF property:
- 6 F-35s
- 18 F-16s
- Eight F-15s
- One CH-53
- One UH-60
- One Gulfstream G550
- Two 707s
- Two unmanned aerial autos
- Two AH-64s
Six U.S. ships took half within the drills, together with the USS George H.W. Bush aircraft carrier, guided-missile cruiser USS Leyte Gulf (CG 55), guided-missile destroyer USS Nitze (DDG 94) and USS Truxtun (DDG 103). Six Israeli ships have been additionally current, together with Sa’ar corvettes INS Hanit, INS Eliat, INS Oz, and INS Tarshis, in addition to submarine INS Dolphin.
The B-52 Stratofortress bombers took half within the train by flying from their house bases, with seven plane noticed flying east throughout United States. Three of these B-52 have been appearing as spares and returned to their house base earlier than crossing the Atlantic Ocean, whereas the remaining 4 continued all the best way to Israel and returned to the US once more after finishing the deliberate mission. An E-11 BACN (Battlefield Airborne Communications Node) aircraft was additionally tracked within the space in the course of the train.
The train culminated in a visit to aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) on January 26 by senior navy leaders from each nations. In reality, throughout train Juniper Oak 23-2, the George H.W. Bush Provider Strike Group operated within the Mediterranean Sea in help of U.S. fifth Fleet whereas nonetheless beneath the operational management of U.S. sixth Fleet. The command-and-control setup demonstrated the inherent flexibility of U.S. naval forces to concurrently help operations in two areas – Europe and the Center East.
✈️💪Provider Air Wing (CVW) 7 and #TeamJackpot participated in #JuniperOak 23-2. Take a look at these photographs from the train.#JO23 is a bilateral navy train, led by @CENTCOM and the @IDF, designed to reinforce interoperability between the U.S. and Israel militaries. pic.twitter.com/l2ZoJ8twXU
— USS George H.W. Bush (CVN 77) (@GHWBCVN77) January 27, 2023
“I’m happy with the trouble from our group to help Juniper Oak, which showcased a excessive stage of dedication, professionalism and readiness from our Sailors alongside our Israeli companions,” stated Rear Adm. Dennis Velez, the strike group commander. “The command-and-control association in Juniper Oak additionally highlighted the flexibleness U.S. Navy service strike teams need to function throughout a number of theaters of operation, and displays the worth the Navy offers to nationwide safety and regional stability anyplace on this planet.”
Juniper Oak 23.2, a large-scale train in Israel and the Jap Mediterranean Sea.
Juniper Oak is the biggest train between US and Israel in historical past and entails hundreds of troops and property in air, on land, at sea, in our on-line world, and in area. pic.twitter.com/DbfHdqdPdR
— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) January 25, 2023
The strike group coordinated complicated, mixed navy operations with Israel on land, within the air and at sea, involving all components of the group. Guided-missile destroyer USS Truxtun (DDG 103) participated in a live-fire drill along with a large-scale strike with air property from Provider Air Wing (CVW) 7. Plane from CVW-7 concerned within the strike train included 16 F/A-18 Tremendous Hornets, 4 E/A-18G Growlers and two E-2D Hawkeyes. 4 GBU-16 laser-guided bombs have been expended on coaching targets.
Each US and Israeli officers agreed that Juniper Oak enhanced interoperability and the ability of CENTCOM forces to rapidly move combat power into the area. “At this time the partnership between CENTCOM and the IDF is stronger and continues to develop. Our partnership is a key pillar of our dedication to increasing regional safety cooperation,” stated Gen. Michael “Erik” Kurilla, CENTCOM commander.“ Lt. Gen. Hertzi Halevi, chief of the final employees for Israel Protection Forces, added: “Juniper Oak has raised our stage of planning and our stage of implementation of mixed operations. It’s all the time good to have our greatest associate right here with us to study from one another. This interoperability strengthens our means to deal with a spread of safety challenges over the realm.”
Stefano D’Urso is a contract journalist and contributor to TheAviationist based mostly in Lecce, Italy. A graduate in Industral Engineering he is additionally finding out to realize a Grasp Diploma in Aerospace Engineering. Digital Warfare, Loitering Munitions and OSINT methods utilized to the world of navy operations and present conflicts are amongst his areas of experience.
