53-plane elephant walk at Kadena air base showcases U.S. military might

Like the rest of us, the Air Force's tradition of "elephant walks" is apparently not immune to inflation, because last weekend's display at Kadena Air Base in Japan is the largest we've ever seen, according to Yahoo. The massive formation featured more than four dozen aircraft plus a battery of anti-aircraft missiles in what military planners call a "walk." Yahoo reports that the Air Force aircraft included: 24 F-35As; eight F-15E Strike Eagles; six HH-60 Pave Hawk rescue helicopters; two MQ-9 Reaper drones; two MC-130J Commando II special ops tankers; six KC-135 tankers; an RC-135 Rivet Joint spy plane that eavesdrops on radio and other communications; and an E-3G Sentry AWACS platform. 

The Navy contributed two EA-18G Growler electronic warfare fighter-bombers and one P-8 Poseidon submarine-hunter, while the Army flanked the formation with two Patriot missile launchers. This 53-plane display beats by one the previous record of 52 aircraft at Hill Air Force Base in Utah that Yahoo wrote about in 2020. The news outlet notes that what makes this elephant walk particularly remarkable isn't just the total number but the variety of airframes, ranging from rescue helicopters to secrecy-shrouded heavy jets serving as spy planes, command posts, and submarine hunters.

In a demonstration of combat readiness and regional deterrence, the 18th Wing conducted this large-scale elephant walk on May 6 at Kadena Air Base, assembling one of the most diverse formations of U.S. military aircraft in the Indo-Pacific, the Official U.S. Air Force website stated. Kadena AB brought together aircraft that regularly operate out of the base from the U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy, along with U.S. Army Patriot missile batteries, for a single capabilities demonstration, highlighting America's integrated air and missile defense system and its commitment to joint operations. 

According to the Air Force, the diversity of capabilities is a testament to the lethality Kadena AB can leverage to deter adversarial aggression in the Indo-Pacific region. Brigadier General Nicholas Evans, 18th Wing commander, was quoted by the Air Force saying, "Working alongside our allies and partners, Kadena stands ready to project airpower throughout the region to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific." Bringing together this level of airpower requires coordination and precision across numerous support elements, as Chief Master Sgt. Brandon Wolfgang, 18th Wing command chief master sergeant, explained: "An elephant walk like this sends a message you can't ignore — it shows our Airmen, allies, and adversaries that we're united, capable, and ready."

In a vivid display of U.S. military might, more than 50 aircraft and two Patriot missile batteries lined an Air Force runway on Okinawa on Tuesday for what the service calls an "elephant walk," Stripes reported. The operation at Kadena Air Base was designed to showcase "the strength of America's integrated air and missile defense and its commitment to joint operations," the 18th Wing said in a statement that day. 

Stripes noted that Air Force photographs show fighters lined up in tight formation behind helicopters and drones, with larger aircraft positioned toward the rear and Patriot systems flanking the sides. In one image, an F-35A from Utah's 421st Expeditionary Fighter Squadron lifts off after the formation.. 

Sources:

1. https://www.yahoo.com/news/53-aircraft-elephant-walk-japan-205730539.html 

2. https://seekingalpha.com/news/4440876-coca-cola-features-prominently-at-the-berkshire-hathaway-meeting-once-again 

3. https://www.stripes.com/branches/air_force/2025-05-07/show-of-force-kadena-okinawa-17710162.html