The Japanese Air Self Defense Force has sent five personnel—four airmen and one contractor—to Robins AFB, Ga., to train with Air Force technicians expert in aircraft battle damage repair. The JASDF liaison at Robins, Lt. Col. Masafumi Ito, said that Japan doesn’t have an ABDR training program and the latest students will replace airmen trained in the US program two years ago. The new Japanese students are focusing on F-15 and C-130 damage repair techniques.
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
