Members of the 354th Fighter Wing (354th FW) participated in a capabilities demonstration during a routine readiness exercise at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, May 20, 2022. The demonstration is part of the base’s training operations exercising the 354th FW ability to rapidly generate and launch the wing’s Lockheed Martin F-35 Lightning II and General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcon fighter aircrafts. Eielson Air Force Base’s location in Alaska makes it an ideal place to launch airpower capable of reaching anywhere in the Northern Hemisphere in one fighter sortie.
“Since our capability demonstration in March 2022, we received our last F-35s and completed our fleet. The 354th FW has the iron and we’re ready to project airpower anytime, anywhere. Our location is a big asset. We’re able to provide world-class training because of our proximity to the Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex, and we can support the projection of all kinds of aircraft, including our permanently-stationed F-35s and other strategic airpower, all over the world. We are ready to answer the call,” said Col. David Berkland, 354th FW commander.
Following the capabilities demonstration, the pilots conducted local training sorties in the JPARC. The 354th FW is the world’s premier fifth-generation fighter wing—ready to compete, deter and win the high-end fight with a diverse, ready and innovative force. The event provided the opportunity for Airmen to hone high-end readiness capabilities. The 354th Fighter Wing is a United States Air Force wing that is part of Pacific Air Forces (PACAF). It is the host wing at Eielson Air Force Base, Alaska, and is assigned to the Eleventh Air Force (11 AF).
The 354th Fighter Wing replaced the 343d Fighter Wing on 20 August 1993 as part of a service-wide effort to preserve the lineage of the Air Force’s most honored wings. All 354th Fighter Wing Aircraft carry the tail code “AK. The 355 FS was inactivated in August 2007 as a result of Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 2005 action and all A-10 aircraft were reassigned to other USAF units. The 18 FS was redesignated as the 18th Aggressor Squadron (18 AGRS) and remains at Eielson, operating the F-16 in an adversary role. Prior to its move to Alaska, the 354 FW was based for more than 35 years at the former Myrtle Beach Air Force Base, South Carolina.
