The US Air Force is preparing its F-35 pilots for the demands of operating in the Indo-Pacific region, emphasizing skills essential for long-duration flights over water. The latest round of the Bamboo Eagle combat readiness exercises tested crews on navigating unfamiliar airspace, working with multiple tanker aircraft, and landing at alternate airfields.
The training, which took place from February 10 to 14, challenged Lockheed-Martin F-35 pilots from the 421st Fighter Squadron to adapt to real-world combat conditions. Normally based at Hill Air Force Base in Utah, the squadron operated out of Naval Air Station North Island in San Diego, California, for the exercise, based on a report from FlightGlobal.
“We have new F-35 pilots who have been with the squadron for two months and they’ve refueled more this week than they ever have before, and in conditions they never have before,” said Lieutenant Colonel Bryan Mussler, commander of the 421st Fighter Squadron.
The focus of the exercise was to expose pilots to realistic scenarios they would face in combat. “We’re hundreds of miles out over the ocean, and you can’t simulate that feeling,” Mussler added.
Combat Scenarios and Realistic Challenges
The F-35 pilots carried out missions that included escort duty, offensive and defensive counter-air operations, and identifying enemy surface-to-air threats. However, the training introduced unexpected elements to simulate combat unpredictability. Missions were extended mid-flight, pilots were assigned new objectives without prior notice, and aircraft were redirected to different landing sites.
“The unpredictability built into this exercise gives us a realistic look at what the fight will be like,” Mussler said.
Unlike the well-known Red Flag combat exercises, which focus primarily on exposing pilots to enemy tactics, Bamboo Eagle tests the entire operational chain. The drills include sortie generation, logistics, and ground crews working under combat conditions.
The exercise also involved other aircraft, including Boeing F-15E fighters, Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit stealth bombers, and Boeing C-17 transports. Ground-based tactical air control teams participated as well. International allies, including the Japan Air Self-Defense Force, Royal Air Force, Royal Australian Air Force, and Royal Canadian Air Force, took part in the training.
Preparing for Future Threats
The US Air Force launched Bamboo Eagle in 2024 to focus on distributed operations, a strategy that disperses forces across a wide region rather than concentrating them at large bases. The exercise placed particular emphasis on sustaining combat operations with minimal infrastructure while simulating threats such as missile strikes.
China has developed an extensive arsenal of long-range precision missiles, which could disrupt US and allied air operations in a conflict. To counter this threat, the Air Force has intensified its training on Agile Combat Employment, which focuses on maintaining high operational tempo while operating under enemy fire.
This strategy challenges ground crews to rapidly refuel and rearm aircraft while ensuring supply lines remain intact. It also reinforces the ability to generate sorties even when forward bases are under attack. Senior Air Force officials have acknowledged that relying on major bases in Japan, Korea, and Guam is no longer viable in modern warfare. In 2024, leaders emphasized the need to adapt to evolving threats.
