Billy Mitchell saw its great potential in 1935, and now the rest of the world has finally caught on.

Strategic AlaskaBy Marc V. Schanz, Associate Editor

USAF photo by SrA. Garrett Hothan ore than ever before, “From an airman’s perspective, [it’s] C-17s are surrounded by low clouds on the Air Force is paying probably the most strategic location,” the runway at Elmendorf AFB, . At right, a map illustrates Alaska’s close attention to its force said Lt. Gen. Dana T. Atkins, command- strategic location. structureM in Alaska. Indeed, a major er of Alaskan Command and Alaskan rush of events in the High North has NORAD region. The state’s geographic propelled the 49th state up to the top location “makes it hugely of strategic Raptors stepped in to fill the role of the ranks of service thinking. import to the and really temporarily grounded F-15 fleet to in- A resurgent Russia has ramped up important in a global context.” tercept Russian Tu-95 Bear bombers. its long-range bomber flights nearby. A From Alaskan bases, the Air Force changing Arctic climate has uncorked can gain quick access both to the Pa- The Air Sovereignty Mission a flurry of activity in the region as cific and European Theaters. Transiting Many of the Raptor pilots lever- once inaccessible resources now seem across the Arctic, forces could arrive in aged their F-15 backgrounds, and the ready for exploitation. Alaska’s strategic Europe faster than if flying from the East scrambles led to the development of a Arctic location is viewed as useful for Coast of the US, Atkins pointed out. new training plan for the air sovereignty missile defense, air defense, and force This responsive location has helped to mission, said Lt. Col. Orlando Sanchez, deployments to locations ranging from push Alaska to the forefront of USAF’s director of operations for the 525th Europe to East Asia and beyond. And investment queue. Fighter Squadron at Elmendorf. While the military training space available to The reinvigoration of Russian bomber F-22s are no longer on alert, they may USAF there is huge and varied. patrols over Arctic waters in August 2007 perform intercepts in the future. For these and other reasons, the Air was an opening push of that country’s The commander of Russia’s Air Force has started beefing up its forces increasingly assertive power projection Force, Col. Gen. Alexander Zelin, in the state. A visitor there sees that efforts. NORAD’s US and Canadian said in April the country will increase the service has been sending its new- fighters have repeatedly intercepted Rus- its strategic patrols to as many as 30 est and most advanced equipment for sian flights skirting Alaskan airspace. a month. Alaskan service, including brand-new New F-22s at Elmendorf Air Force “It’s been interesting in the last few F-22 fighters and C-17 transports. Base took center stage last fall when years,” said Gen. Carrol H. Chandler, 46 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2008 chief of , in Septem- continental shelves, according to senior ing capability. “But you know we’re ber. “When I was ... Alaskan Command Russian military officials. Geologists constantly testing each others’ intel commander, we had one intercept in believe major oil and gas deposits could ability, we’re constantly testing each the time that I was there. The Russians potentially become available as the polar others’ reaction ability, and that’s just have continued to put emphasis on ice cap slowly recedes with warming part of it.” long-range aviation; they’ve continued temperatures—a fact that is the focus A big issue in the mix is the filing of to put emphasis on presence in the of increasing attention to the nations standard international flight plans by the Arctic. ... Those numbers have picked claiming Arctic waters. Russians, Atkins said. If an aircraft ap- Staff illustration by Zaur Eylanbekov

up considerably over the last three to “I don’t see that abating anytime in proaches a nation’s sovereign boundary four years.” the near future, and the Russians cer- with a flight plan, things would be a lot Chandler suspects that a “competi- tainly have the resources at this point” less complicated, he said. The problem tion for resources” will continue, and to continue to push into the region, said with the Russian long-range bomber perhaps intensify, in the Arctic. Chandler. missions is that “what we’ve witnessed Last year, Russia publicized a subma- ... is these flights occur without these rine trip to the bottom of the seabed at the A Resurgent Russia flight plans.” North Pole—where the crew deposited While Russia’s Arctic bellicosity This is one of the goals of improved a titanium Russian flag, symbolically has been on the rise, commanders in mil-to-mil relations with the Russian marking territory. the region say the moves have to be Far East Military District commanders, The Canadians derided the expedition kept in perspective. Atkins added. “It seems too simple to as a “stunt,” with Prime Minister Ste- “Is it Cold War games all over again? I say that, but if they would just adhere to phen Harper making a trip to Canada’s don’t think so,” said Brig. Gen. Thomas the protocols that we have all accepted, Arctic region to unveil several major L. Tinsley, who led the at then I think a lot of the perceived ten- military investments, and following Elmendorf until his death in July. The sion will evaporate.” with a new defense strategy, outlining moves are not hollow, however, and The US Coast Guard cooperates new capabilities in the North. represent Russia’s “desire to bring closely with the Russians just across Russia’s focus on Arctic operations their Air Forces back up to the speed the Bering Strait on issues ranging from is a part of the country’s push to as- they were.” fishing to limiting piracy, Atkins said. sert its own interests over Siberia’s Tinsley noted that Russia has doubled This month a survival search and rescue extended continental shelf—the largest the fuel it allots to its strategic aviation exercise was to be conducted, and this and least explored so far of the world’s forces in order to bring back lost train- past summer US forces participated in AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2008 47 USAF photo by A1C David Carbajal

a homeland defense exercise where a likely to be another record low point,” An F-15C from the 60th Fighter Squad- simulated hijacking took place—with Meadows said. ron takes off from Elmendorf Air Force command and control elements in both Russia, Canada, Norway, the US, Base on a Red Flag-Alaska mission. Alaska and Russia simulating the track- and Denmark (through Greenland) are ing and handing off of the aircraft. in the process of researching the polar Both Atkins and Gen. Victor E. Renu- seabed to support their respective claims art Jr. at NORAD have been working for extended continental shelves. The The Air Force’s Elmendorf and Eiel- to invite some of the Russian Far East disputes, which are being addressed son Air Force Bases have seen wholesale Military District commanders to visit in several transnational forums, have changes over the past year. Alaska to continue building between long-standing implications for access Until 2007, Elemendorf hosted a pair the two militaries professional relation- to resources ranging from petroleum of F-15C squadrons, an F-15E squadron, ships—which haven’t always been as to natural gas and minerals that are and C-130s for tactical mobility. close as the Coast Guard’s. assessed to be under the Arctic Cap. Up at Eielson, the “I’m the new guy. I’m going to try to featured a squadron of F-16s and an keep building that professional rapport,” A Tyranny of Distance A-10 squadron. Atkins quipped. “It would be great to The Arctic may become a busier Most of these aircraft are now gone, get a rapport like the [Coast Guard’s]. maritime route. With less ice-cap re- replaced by state-of-the-art succes- ... I’d like to achieve the same kind of strictions, it becomes beneficial to move sors or equipment tailored to unique professional tie.” global commerce across the north rather missions. In addition to renewed tensions with than through traditional routes. Atkins said the Pacific Theater’s Russia, increased air and maritime “Who’s going to protect those airways tyranny of distance makes it no accident traffic is a growing concern at Alaskan and waterways?” Tinsley asked. “Those that the only C-17 squadrons perma- Command. Climate conditions have domains are very important to us.” nently stationed outside the continental revealed a host of new Arctic transna- tional issues. Navy Capt. Tom Meadows, ALCOM’s director of plans and policy, has worked USAF photo on the command’s climate change studies in the Arctic since early 2007, when then- commander Air Force Lt. Gen. Douglas M. Fraser put together a symposium to talk about the changing climate in the region and its strategic implications. It “was a bit of an eye opener for some drastic changes that were taking place,” Meadows recalled. The driver of all the renewed activity is the size of the polar ice cap during the summer months, which, according to Meadows, reached a record low point in December 2007. This year “is An Elmendorf-based F-22 intercepts a Russian Tu-95MS Bear bomber near Alaska. 48 AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2008 The 3rd Wing’s F-22 Raptors deployed to Guam for the first time this July. While much of Alaska’s new capabili- ties have bedded down, the near future holds more change. A big push will be to get appropriate

USAF photo by Kevin Roberston hangar space for arriving aircraft. El- mendorf currently features a seven-bay hangar, used by Raptor maintainers, An F-22 Raptor arrives at . which formerly housed C-130s and F-4s. A new facility is due by 2011, Sanchez said. Currently, the F-22s and F-15Cs share ramp space, but the milcon program is well under way to expand facilities. “Eventually we will have hangared space for all the aircraft,” Sanchez said. “We’d prefer to have [the crew chiefs] inside, but we ... have space for major maintenance” right now. The base is in the middle of sig- nificant infrastructure upgrades for the new fighters. A Low Observable Component Repair Facility—a cli- mate-controlled repair structure for stealth materials—was completed this US are in Hawaii and Alaska. Today, “The ability for our pilots to lever- past summer, and a new operations eight C-17s call Elmendorf home—part age that capability is tied to the right and maintenance squadron building is of Elmendorf’s mission transition to airspace and range environments,” At- anticipated by 2011. take advantage of the base’s strategic kins said of the Raptor. “And Alaska On the mobility side, upgrades and operating location. affords that.” construction on the books include a Previously, C-17s flying from the new dual-bay hangar, new operations continental US would have to lay over in A Training Ideal buildings, and improvements to assault Alaska or Hawaii before proceeding west, By the end of 2009, about 40 Raptors landing zones on the PARC. to allow for crew swaps or rest time. will be stationed at Elmendorf, said In July, the Due to Alaska’s location, a C-17 is Sanchez, the 525th FS DO. Other than performed the first dirt assault landing now a day closer to most destinations the extreme climate, Alaska is prime with a C-17 in Alaska on a strip near across the Pacific—and only eight hours Raptor training space. Ft. Greely. from Germany over the North Pole. In Alaska, Sanchez’s pilots can train Alaska’s range space, what com- In May, US Pacific Command used with an E-3 AWACS squadron—which manders call some of the best in the two C-17s, one flying from Elmendorf, is just across the ramp—as well as F- world, will also be the focus of increased to speed over 175,000 pounds of relief 15Cs, he said. Coupled with the new investment. The large investment being supplies to China in response to the aggressors at Eielson and the tanker sup- made in improving the capabilities of devastating Sichuan earthquake. port of the Alaska ’s the PARC—upward of $57 million “We can reach any critical point in 168th Air Refueling Wing, the Raptor over the next several fiscal years—will the world in less than 10 hours,” Lt. is well-supported to train for a variety directly benefit Raptor training and Col. Dave Almand, commander of of missions over Alaska’s sprawling the Red Flag-Alaska exercise. From Elmendorf’s 517th Airlift Squadron, military airspaces—the Pacific Alaskan bombing ranges to simulated integrated said last year. Range Complex. air defense systems, Raptor pilots will In addition to a new strategic lift ca- “It’s going to grow into another be getting a more robust experience up pability, Alaska is one of two locations premier fighter training ground,” San- north as the ranges mature. outside the continental US that will host chez, a former F-15C weapons officer The Air National Guard’s the Air Force’s top-of-the-line combat and USAF Weapons School instructor, at Kulis Air National Guard Base will aircraft—the F-22A Raptor. Elmendorf’s said of Alaska. also move its HC-130s, C-130s, and 90th Fighter Squadron gained a squadron “Most bases, to get that kind of train- HH-60s to Elmendorf—and a raft of of Raptors in 2007—the first squadron ing, they would have to deploy to a Red modifications to older structures and outside the continental US. The 525th Flag or Nellis. ... We have a pretty good new construction will follow the BRAC- FS reactivated, and also received Rap- training setup, with Northern Edge and directed move. tors. (One F-15C squadron, the 19th FS, Red Flag-Alaska.” For all of the shifts and changes, this remains at Elmendorf.) Alaska’s capabilities are of great much is clear: The cumulative power of At Eielson, the Air Force stood up a importance in a wide range of contingen- airpower in the state is great. It is only new aggressor squadron for Red Flag- cies and war plans across the Pacific. fitting for a place that Brig. Gen. Billy Alaska. The base brought in Block 30 F- “We’re not in [war plans] as a maybe. Mitchell, way back in 1935, called “the 16s for the 18th Aggressor Squadron. We’re in as a must,” said Tinsley. most strategic place in the world.” ■ AIR FORCE Magazine / November 2008 49