The “Elephant Walk” exercise in the Air Force is a way to demonstrate the readiness of the aircraft fleet to carry out missions or operations when necessary.
That is what the US Air Force (USAF) did when it conducted an “Elephant Walk” exercise with 24 F-22 Raptor stealth fighter jets at Langley AFB in Virginia, USA, on January 31.
The F-22 fighter squadron from the 1st Fighter Wing (1 FW) participated in the exercise as part of a training exercise to increase the readiness of the air base.
The US Air Force explained that the main goal of the exercise is to demonstrate the unit’s ability to quickly mobilize and deploy combat forces anywhere in the world.
Most importantly, to ensure that they are ready to carry out missions In real-world scenarios.
This type of training is essential to maintaining the Air Force’s effectiveness and readiness in the face of potential threats or emergencies.
For this reason, the U.S. Air Force added that this year’s exercise at Langley Air Force Base included a total of 30 aircraft, including 24 F-22s and six T-38 Talon training aircraft.
The 1st Fighter Wing is responsible for operating and maintaining both types of aircraft, and is the only official training unit for F-22 Raptor pilots in the U.S. Air Force.
During the “Elephant Walk” maneuver, all aircraft move in close formation on the runway, simulating a rapid and coordinated takeoff.
This is the second time the F-22 has performed the “Elephant Walk” exercise at Langley Air Force Base, the first being in 2019 and the exercise in Hawaii in 2020.
In recent years, this maneuver has been increasingly adopted by air forces around the world, as it is a test and demonstration of the squadron's ability to launch large aerial structures in a short time while providing a rapid response.
These exercises usually include, in addition to fighter jets, other support aircraft such as air-to-air refueling aircraft, air combat control aircraft and bombers.
In addition to the tactical aspects, the “Elephant Walk” exercise has become an important event for the public relations team, as the US Air Force media outlets have taken advantage of the event to publicize it on social media platforms, which has contributed to its widespread distribution.
For the US Air Force, this approach has had a positive impact in increasing civilian interest in joining the Air Force.